Latino Festival funds Puerto Rican holiday

Latino Festival funds Puerto Rican holiday

By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

YOUNGSTOWN — The Latino Festival was full of food, music and children’s activities. But it had a larger purpose: raising money for a Three Kings Day celebration.

“In our culture the three kings come and leave gifts for the children, so we do it every year here,” said Mayra Espada. Espada and her husband, Cesar Santiago, owners of Saborico Market & Caf on Shehy Street, organized and sponsored Saturday’s Latino Festival.

Three Kings Day is a Christian holiday that commemorates the biblical story of the three wise men who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to the newborn baby Jesus. It is celebrated Jan. 5.

Often, Espada said, when people move here from Puerto Rico, they don’t have the money to celebrate the day.

So a community celebration takes place “just for them to remember that there’s a future, and we want you to smile even though you’re going through a rough time getting a job in a new place,” she said. “When you come from Puerto Rico, you feel lost. But don’t feel lost. We are part of Youngstown.”

Parts of the 4th annual Latino festival were meant to encourage children, as well.

“I invited the fire department, they come, show the kids, if they want to have that profession in the future,” Espada said. “To encourage them that there is a future for everybody here.”

Kids also had their faces painted, and a clown created balloon animals for them. The sounds of Latino music filled the air, and tents provided plenty of shade.

The proceeds from the sale of food will benefit the 2010 Three Kings Day celebration.

Rosario Gonzalez of Youngstown came to hear the music and enjoy the last days of summer.

“I think it’s nice,” she said. “The food’s good.”

And she likes supporting a worthwhile cause.

“The children had a great time at the Three Kings [celebration] last year,” she said.

The event is a lot of work for Espada and Santiago, said Miriam Ocasio, a Boardman attorney and a sponsor of the event.

“They’re doing this to try to help the Hispanic community and others because people always have a negative impression of the East Side of Youngstown,” said Ocasio, who was born and raised on the East Side.

“But there are a lot of positive things. There are a lot of great people here, a lot of great activities.”

At the festival, the local chapter of the Latin American Motorcycle Association was honored for its work with the Hispanic community.

The group frequently helps the youths of the Hispanic community, Espada noted.

“So we thought it was a very good idea to honor them,” she said.

They appreciate the honor, said Luis Arroyo, secretary of the local chapter.

“But it’s not about that, it’s about being involved in the community.” The local LAMA chapter formed in 2003.