City Kicks Off Hispanic Heritage Month At Farmers' Market

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2006

For more information, please contact:
Beverly Calender-Anderson, Safe and Civil City Director, City of
Bloomington, 349-3560
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3569

Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington will launch celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with a Fall Fiesta or Fiesta de Otoño on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 9:00 am - noon.

The entire community is invited to this celebration, which takes place in conjunction with the Farmers' Market at City Hall Plaza. Performances on the outdoor stage will include Isaac Salazar on Guitar and Grupo de Teatro, a Spanish language performance group.

Free Salsa lessons will be offered by Arturo Rodriduez and members of the Cutters Youth Soccer Team will demonstrate their athletic skills. Cooking demonstrations will take place in the Atrium of City Hall. Representatives from El Centro Comunal and other area organizations will demonstrate preparation techniques for dishes from a variety of Latin American countries.

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador,Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16 and Chile on September 18. The month concludes on October 15.

Other Hispanic Heritage Month celebration activities throughout the city include Border Lines: A Festival of Plays by Latino and Latina Writers at the Bloomington Playwright's Project, Sept. 14-30; Monroe County Public Library Hispanic Heritage Celebration at the library on Oct. 7 and the following activities sponsored by the Indiana University Latino Cultural Center: Militarizing Latina/o Students in American Public Schools on Sept. 20, Indiana University Distinguished Latino Alumni Award on September 30, and Festival Latino in Dunn Meadow on Sept. 30.

Join neighbors and friends in celebrating the heritage, culture, spirit and contributions of Hispanic Americans. For additional information on Fall Fiesta/Fiesta de Otoño contact the Beverly Calender-Anderson, City of Bloomington Safe and Civil City Director at 349-3560 or by e-mail at [safeandcivil@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:safeandcivil@bloomington.in.gov].

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