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From: Don Jibaro
To: Don Jibaro's Network
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 7:52 PM
Subject: Don Jibaro on the WEB VIRUS scare
Fest makes the best of hard times
MERIDEN, CONN. - Organizer Frank Velez walked through the crowd at the 42nd annual Puerto Rican Cultural Festival Sunday in Hubbard Park with a big smile on his face.
The sounds of bongos, maracas, horns and drums filled the park
as the band El Son de Hoy took the stage in the late afternoon
The weather had cooperated, but he said the struggling economy made for a smaller turnout this year than he would have liked. Other people said they thought the turnout was a little bigger than in past years. Either way, everyone was enjoying listening to music, eating and visiting with friends.
"It's very, very good today. A lot of young people participated this year," Velez said. "It takes a lot of effort to put this together and the economy is killing everyone."
The economy reduced the number of vendors and activities at the festival. Ismael Torres of Wallingford, sitting with his wife, Beatrice, in lawn chairs, said he was having a good time but would have liked to have seen a wider variety of food vendors.
"We come every year. It's great. I would like to see more traditional food vendors though," Ismael said. "But the music is good and I like to see a lot of friends that I know."
Several vendors sold hot dogs and frozen treats, such as ice cream or the flavored ice treat called piragua. Vendors in a tent were selling all sorts of Puerto Rican-themed merchandise, including hats, shirts, flags and toys.
The festival centered on the numerous bands playing in the band shell. The sounds of bongos, maracas, horns and drums filled the park as the band El Son de Hoy took the stage in the late afternoon.
The sun beat down and sent many people to seek a spot in the shade to the right of the stage or on the hill. Others didn't seem to mind as they sat front and center watching and dancing to the music.
State House Speaker Christopher Donovan was in attendance walking around with a mango-flavored piragua and soaking in the day's events.
"I come every year to say hello to all of my friends," the Meriden Democrat said. "We have a great Puerto Rican community. It's great to share in their culture."
Standing off to the side of the dance floor, Donovan joked that he wasn't quite ready to show off his dance moves just yet.
"I'm still practicing," he said.
Maria Cordero and Oscar Gonzales stood nearby watching the band. They also noticed that the festival seems to be scaled down. Cordero thinks it might be that the younger generation is just too busy to participate in events such as the festival.
Council of Neighborhoods President David Swedock stood in the back, looking over the crowd with Lt. Sal Nesci of the Police Department.
"It's nice to have the cultural diversity. A lot of people can lose their cultural identities as they get older," Swedock said. "I love that everyone is here and peaceful. There is no harassment. I do wish there were more Spanish food though."
Next year Velez hopes to the event can get back to the size it has been in the past. Though this year's festival was still going on, he said he was already busy planning next year's.
"I have a big surprise for everyone, but I can't say what it is yet," Velez said.
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