El Sol Latino | October 2019 | 15.11

October 2019

Volume 15 No. 11

Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper NationalUnHispanic Heritage Month in Holyoke 2019

Iglesia Bautista Quechua Nueva Vida

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Editorial / Editorial

Note of the editor – We have decided to share the following statement in our editorial section, an open letter

of Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress (CAP) and Enrique Fernández-Toledo, also of CAP, on the situation in Puerto Rico.

On The 2-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Maria, The Trump Administration Continues To Fail Puerto Rico Washington, D.C. September 20, 2019- Two years after Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico, Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement: Two years have passed since Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico, and today we remember the more than 3,000 people who died as a result of the worst natural disaster in the island’s history.

Despite clear indications that many died due to the abysmal federal response after the storm, the Trump administration has learned nothing and continues to obstruct the proper resources needed to overcome this tragedy. After all this time, only a small fraction of the relief and reconstruction federal funds approved

by Congress for the island have been allocated as a result of the administration’s anti-Puerto Rican, racist disaster policies. Congress also must continue to act to hold the administration accountable and must deliver on legislation to address the impending Medicaid cliff, which faces depletion of the program’s operating funds by January 2020, as well as to reform the Financial Oversight and Management Board created by PROMESA. Enrique Fernández-Toledo, director of the Puerto Rico Relief and Economic Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress, added: Puerto Rico will never be able to recover and rebuild if critical resources continue to be withheld by the

Trump administration. Of the roughly $20 billion dollars allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recover, only $1.5 billion has been approved and less than $200 million spent. Moreover, HUD has not even published the guidelines to use $8.3 billion of those funds, something required by law and due last September 4 2019.

Although electrical power service has been flimsily restored, the system needed in Puerto Rico to save thousands of lives when the next big hurricane hits the island has yet to be installed. Mayors of municipalities on the island continue to wait for the reimbursement for millions of dollars that they already spent from very scarce budgets on cleanup and debris removal.

Finally, Congress must consider the utter failure of the unelected Financial Oversight and Management Board imposed on Puerto Rico by PROMESA. Legislation announced to be introduced by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) would require an audit of Puerto Rico’s public debt, which would deliver reasonable and sustainable debt reduction and settlements; protect essential services for the population; generate plans for economic growth and development for Puerto Rico; and provide additional federal funding for the board so that Puerto Rico doesn’t continue to foot the bill for this bloated bureaucracy.

Foto del Mes/Photo of the Month

Conmemoración del 151 Aniversario de El Grito de Lares Holyoke Public Library – sábado, 21 de septiembre de 2019

contents

2 Editorial / Editorial On The 2-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Maria, The Trump Administration Continues To Fail Puerto Rico 3 Portada / Front Page Successful Kickoff Event for National Hispanic Heritage Month in Holyoke 4 Autor y Poeta José Luis Silva-Díaz Planta Bandera en Massachusetts 5 Centro’s Diaspora Summit 2019 Focused on Efforts and Actions to Rebuild Puerto Rico 6 Holyoke to rename street after community leader Betty Medina Lichtenstein 7 Libros / Books Aftershocks of Disaster 8 Let the Countdown Begin Highlights of El Sol Latino 2016 - 2018 9 El Sol Latino Memorable Front Pages 2016- 2018 10 Opinión / Opinion The Political Candidates Speak about Poverty: What’s Where and What is Missing!

11 The More You Know, The More You’ll Vote “No” 12 A 151 años del Grito de Lares: una historia inconclusa 13 Educación / Education This bilingual debate team in NYC is fighting ‘English-only norms’ at national competitions 14 Ciencias / Sceince Por qué consumir azúcar en exceso es malo para tu cuerpo 5 Deportes / Sports 1 Repiten los Legends – Campeones 2019

Founded in 2004

n

Volume 15, No. 11 n October 2019

Editor Manuel Frau Ramos manuelfrau@gmail.com 413-320-3826 Assistant Editor Ingrid Estrany-Frau Managing Editor Diosdado López

Art Director Tennessee Media Design Business Address El Sol Latino P.O Box 572 Amherst, MA 01004-0572

Editorial Policy

En reconocimiento al 151 aniversario de El Grito de Lares, ocurrido el 23 de septiembre de 1868, se presentó el documental 1950: La Insurrección Nacionalista. Finalizada la presentación, José Manuel Dávila Marichal (con sweater gris, en la segunda fila), productor, director y escritor del documental, participó en un conversatorio con el público presente. El poeta José Luis Silva-Díaz, (segundo de izquierda a derecha, en la segunda fila) abrió el evento con una poesía dedicada al pueblo de Lares. Esta actividad fue auspiciada por el Hispanic American Library, Inc./Grito de Lares, Holyoke Public Library y el Center for Latin America, Caribbean and Latino Studies de UMass Amherst.

El Sol Latino acepta colaboraciones tanto en español como en inglés.

Nos comprometemos a examinarlas, pero no necesariamente a publicarlas. Nos reservamos el derecho de editar los textos y hacer correcciones por razones de espacio y/o estilo. Las colaboraciones pueden ser enviadas a nuestra dirección postal o a través de correo electrónico a: info@elsollatino.net.

El Sol Latino welcomes submissions in either English or Spanish.

We consider and review all submissions but reserve the right to not publish them. We reserve the right to edit texts and make corrections for reasons of space and/or style. Submissions may be sent to our postal address or via electronic mail to: info@elsollatino.net.

El Sol Latino is published monthly by Coquí Media Group.

El Sol Latino es publicado mensualmente por Coquí Media Group, P.O Box 572, Amherst, MA 01004-0572.

Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino October 2019

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Successful Kickoff Event for National Hispanic Heritage Month in Holyoke

By MANUEL FRAU RAMOS The kickoff event for National Hispanic Heritage Month in Holyoke took place on Monday, September 16th, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm, at the new City Plaza by the Ernest Proux parking garage on Dwight Street across City Hall.

The sixth annual kickoff event was dedicated to Guatemala native, Marikler Giron-Toensmeier (1974 -2019) who died earlier this year. Marikler was a member of the organizing committee and one of the original founders of this event that brings together Latinos and non-Latinos to celebrate Latin American heritage.

Teresita Castaño and Iohan Rashi-Vega are two of the original founders of this annual event.

Myriam Quiñones, Mark Nasjleti, and Teresita Castaño

Before welcoming and introduction remarks by Mark Nasjleti, the duo of classic guitarists, Orlando Zayas and Eliezer Torres, along with percussionist Javi Cruz, opened the event by playing various classics of Latin American music. The musical numbers were followed by a tribute to Giron-Toensmeier presented by Teresita Castaño, Nathalie Vicencio, and Maurice Taylor who read a poem he had written for her.

Mayor Alex Morse issued an official Proclamation declaring September as National Hispanic Heritage Month in Holyoke. He also recognized this year’s honorees: Raquel Obregón and José Luis Silva-Díaz. State Representative Aaron Vega also presented a Proclamation to Obregón and Silva-Díaz.

Puerto Rican author and poet José Luis Silva-Díaz is the author of two books: Puerto Rico – folclor y leyenda, conociéndote en la vida moderna, and Mis pueblos, su historia, un poema: Borinquen Bella. SilvaDíaz is originally from Cayey, Puerto Rico. He retired from the Army as the Regimental Command Sergeant Major for the Quartermaster Corps after 26 years of service. He holds a bachelor’s Degree in Education, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, an Associate’s Degree in Network Support Administration-Engineer, and an State Representative Aaron Vega, Raquel Obregón, Associate’s Degree in Applied and José Luis Silva-Díaz Science Network Support Administration-CISCO. He is married to his wife of 41 years, Diana Rivera.

In Mis pueblos, su historia, un poema: Borinquen Bella, Silva-Díaz describes the history of each town by presenting historical details, and highlighting each town’s unique characteristics and folklore.

Silva-Díaz’s work has been included in the Center for Puerto Rican Studies Library, The City University of New York (CUNY).

Nathalie Vicencio opened the musical portion of the program with a brief history of quechuan culture. The group Iglesia Bautista Quechua Nueva Vida, formed 17 years ago, and composed mainly of indigenous musicians, dancers and singers from Ecuador, performed native songs and danzas.

They sang Elianai, and El Shaddai in quechua, followed by a sing-along of Tucuta Ruraj Dios with the participation of musicians and attendees.

Dancers of the Iglesia Bautista Quechua Nueva Vida

This year’s sponsors were: City of Holyoke, Holyoke Health, Wayfinders, Holyoke Community College, El Sol Latino, City Sports Bar & Lounge, and Nueva Esperanza, Inc. On September 11, Holyoke Community College (HCC) kicked off its annual celebration of national Hispanic Heritage Month with the first of five weeks’ worth of free Spanish language films, continuing through October 15 with lectures, arts activities, cultural displays and other Latinx oriented events.

Raquel Obregón and Mayor Alex Morse

Raquel Obregón is producer and host of the popular radio program Tertulia from WFCR. The program is presented in a bilingual format. Raquel was born in Lima, Peru. She graduated from the University of San Marcos, where she studied Mathematics, and subsequently became a high school math teacher. She began working at New England Public Radio in 2004, as the co-host of Tertulia. In 2010 Raquel took over as full-time program host.

HCC got an early start with the opening of its 2019 Spanish Film Festival with a free showing of El Despertar de Camila (Camila’s Awakening), a film from Chile about a teenage swimmer who suffers a debilitating stroke.

The other films featured in the film festival were: Yo no me llamo Ruben Blades (Ruben Blades is not my name), a documentary of the musician and actor Ruben Blades; Todos lo saben (Everybody Knows), movie continued on page 4

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Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino October 2019

Autor y Poeta José Luis Silva-Díaz Planta Bandera en Massachusetts por MANUEL FRAU RAMOS El poeta José Luis Silva-Díaz, residente en Clarksville, Tennessee, realizó su primera gira promocional de sus libros de poesía y folclor puertorriqueño al oeste de Massachusetts durante el mes de septiembre. Esta primera visita fue muy bien acogida.

Nació en Cayey, Puerto Rico y se retiró del Ejército como Regimental Command Sergeant Major for the Quartermaster Corps luego de 26 años de servicio. Ha estado casado por 41 años con Diana Rivera y tiene 2 hijas, María y Melissa, y 3 nietos.

La exitosa gira fue posible en parte gracias a la labor de outreach realizada por Damaris Pérez Pizarro, periodista de El Pueblo Latino. Pérez Pizarro facilitó, con la ayuda financiera de El Hispanic American Library Inc./ Grito de Lares, la participación del poeta en varias actividades organizadas por grupos puertorriqueños y Latinx de la región, entre ellos, el Puerto Rican Cultural Project-Holyoke Public Library, y el comité organizador del evento National Hispanic Heritage Month de Holyoke.

Juan Falcón del Hispanic American Library (al centro), junto a Adam Gómez, María Pérez, y estudiantes de la Chestnut Academy le dan la bienvenida a José Luis Silva-Díaz, a la extrema derecha. (Foto suministrada por HAL, Inc. /Bill Hughes)

Silva-Díaz fue entrevistado por Marcos Dermith en su programa Ecos del Ritmo, que se trasmite los martes de 2:00 a 4:00 por WTCC 90.7 FM desde Springfield Technical Community College. También participó en el programa radial El Batey Jíbaro de Harold Canales, “El Vegabajeño” que se transmite los sábados de 6:30 a 8:30 am por Radio Bomba 104.5 FM. Silva-Díaz visitó Esperanza Center en Chestnut Academy en Springfield para presentar su nuevo libro a los estudiantes. El poeta tomó parte de las actividades conmemorativas de el Grito de Lares en la Biblioteca Pública de Holyoke y en el Kickoff del National Hispanic Heritage Month.

El alcalde de Holyoke, Alex Morse, y los representantes estatales Aaron Vega y Carlos González reconocieron al poeta con proclamas.

Damaris Pérez Pizarro y Edwin Vélez

Successful Kickoff Event for National Hispanic Heritage Month in Holyoke in Puerto Rico continued from page 3 featuring Penélope Cruz as a woman who returns to her hometown in Spain for a wedding, where the festive mood is spoiled when her daughter disappears, and Un Traductor (A Translator), based on the true story of the 20,000 victims of Russia’s Chernobyl disaster that were treated in Cuba in 1989. The story follows a professor who acts as a translator between Cuban doctors and the families of young patients.

The final film in HCC’s 2019 Spanish Film Festival, Me llamaban el Rey Tigre (They Called Me King Tiger: A Biography of the Chicano Malcom X) will be shown Wed., Oct. 9, 7 p.m. in the Leslie Phillips Theater. It is a documentary from Mexico about Reies López Tijerina, a MexicanAmerican radical and civil rights activist dubbed “King Tiger” and “the Malcolm X of the Chicano Movement.

The Carlos Vega Collection of Latino History in Holyoke was on display until September 30 in the HCC Library. This collection was a loan from the Wistariahurst Museum.

A celebration of Latina Activist Women a poster exhibit on loan from the Holyoke Public Library will be on display at El Centro, second floor, HCC Campus Center until October 15.

Ongoing, drop-in workshops. Vejigante Mask Making. Learn how to create an authentic vejigante mask, part of traditional folkloric costumes worn at Puerto Rican festivals and celebrations. In El Centro, second floor, HCC Campus Center.

Manuel Frau Ramos, Jose Luis díaz Silva, Marcos Dermith, Juan Falcón y Diana Viera José Luis Silva-Díaz ha escrito dos libros: Puerto Rico – folclor y leyenda, conociéndote en la vida moderna, y Mis pueblos, su historia, un poema: Borinquen Bella. Su contribución ha sido objeto de excelentes críticas, y debido a su rico contenido literario, su trabajo ha sido incluido en la Biblioteca del Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños, The City University of New York (CUNY).

Wed., Oct. 9, 11 a.m.: Latinx Celebration. Come celebrate national Hispanic Heritage Month with music, culture and food. Visit our popup museum of art and artifacts from various Latinx countries and learn about their contributions to art, music and culture. Outside in the HCC Courtyard.

Thurs., Oct. 10, 11 a.m.: “Holyoke’s Latinx History.” A panel discussion with Betty Medina-Lichtenstein, executive director of Enlace de Familias de Holyoke; Miguel Arce, professor of Social Work, Springfield College; Orlando Isaza, social activist and community organizer.

Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino October 2019

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Centro’s Diaspora Summit 2019 Focused on Efforts and Actions to Rebuild Puerto Rico Reprinted with permission from Centro Voices - Center for Puerto Rican Studies | August 2019 NEW YORK, NY | THE CENTER FOR PUERTO RICAN STUDIES | September 21, 2019 - Centro: The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Hunter College of the City University of New York) hosted Puerto Rico Puerto Ricans Diaspora Summit 2019 this past Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21 at Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work.

This Summit centered on the efforts in the Puerto Rican diaspora and on the island to rebuild Puerto Rico in the context of the second anniversary of hurricanes Irma and Maria, the persistent economic disaster and the unfolding political crisis affecting the Commonwealth. The purpose of the summit is the core of Centro’s mission, which is dedicated to understanding, preserving and sharing the Puerto Rican experience in the United States.

Centro convened this summit in keeping with its institutional mission to, among other things, link scholarly inquiry to social action and policy debates.

“We wanted Puerto Ricans from all walks of life to have the opportunity to take an active role in rebuilding Puerto Rico,” explained Professor Edwin Meléndez, director of Centro. “We provided a neutral place for this to occur and we aspire to be honest brokers in this process. We may not always agree with each other,” added Meléndez, “but we do need to find common ground for the rebuilding efforts and we need a space where we can articulate these efforts. Centro offers the community such a space.”

For more information, visit http://centropr.nationbuilder.com/diaspora_ summit_2019_program About the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Centro): The Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College, CUNY (Centro) is the nation’s leading university-based institution devoted to the interdisciplinary study of the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. Centro is dedicated to understanding, preserving and sharing the Puerto Rican experience in the United States. Centro also collects, preserves and provides access to library resources documenting Puerto Rican history and culture. Centro seeks to link scholarship to social action and policy debates, and to contribute to the betterment of our community and the enrichment of Puerto Rican studies.

This year’s Summit featured 59 panelists who presented in panels, plenary sessions and workshops during the two-day program.

The Puerto Rico delegation included 21 speakers from the island, such as, journalists Sandra Rodríguez and Oscar Serrano who covered the ousting of former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. The Friday afternoon plenary featured anticorruption and transparency advocates Noel Zamot, and Mario Marazzi.

The Summit is reflective of the diversity of the diaspora with more than three dozen community leaders and elected officials participating as speakers and representing nine states with the largest concentration of Puerto Ricans in the United States. They represent the diversity of organizations and perspectives of Puerto Ricans. To date, no other stateside or island event has brought together the depth and the range of opinions as this year’s Summit will do.

The themes of the panels spanned the gamut from economic development efforts through social entrepreneurship and locally-based community development, solidarity from the diaspora and civic engagement, assisting displaced persons and local action, the debt crisis and austerity measures as well as highlighting the public outcry and mass mobilization on the island. The panelists discussed initiatives for good governance and political solutions to the crisis.

at https://www.facebook.com/ El-Sol-Latino-280862535259910

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Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino October 2019

Holyoke to rename street after community leader Betty Medina Lichtenstein HOLYOKE, MA | CITY OF HOLYOKE | September 24, 2019 - Mayor Alex Morse, City Councilors, and community leaders will be dedicating and renaming Spring Street to “Betty Medina Street” in honor of beloved community leader Betty Medina Lichtenstein. The ceremony will be held Monday, September 30, 2019 at 5:00PM at the corner of Spring and Main Street.

Betty Medina Lichtenstein moved to Holyoke in 1978. She realized the importance of high-quality education as a means to break the cycle of poverty after she began providing legal assistance to Holyoke residents.

Education became her passion leading her to run a successful grassroots campaign for school committee in 1985. The election resulted in Betty being the first Puerto Rican woman elected to public office in the State of Massachusetts. Her election put Holyoke on the political map in this State and neighboring states. She served as Holyoke’s Ward 2 School Committee member for nine years.

Betty has worked for Baystate Medical Center, Mass Migrant Program, Centro Latino de Holyoke, HAP (Housing Allowance Program), and Nueva Esperanza. For the past 23 years, she has been the Executive Director of Enlace de Familias Inc. Enlace operates under the oversight of a Board of Directors who are both residents and professionals that support and value the mission of Enlace de Familias. Enlace has been the founder of the Holyoke Youth Task Force, the Holyoke Community Charter School and Holyoke Unites/Holyoke Se Une. Betty is known in Holyoke for her grassroots community organizing efforts in the poorest neighborhoods around issues of equality, 100% graduation, and social justice. She has assisted tenants organize in some of the public housing projects in Holyoke as they reestablish Tenant Associations, sanitary code enforcement, and community development. When asked where she gets the energy to continue her efforts, her answer is always the same: being part of the Puerto Rican community in Holyoke. She wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“It is an honor and a privilege to have worked alongside Betty, she has always been someone I can count on. The City of Holyoke remembers the countless efforts that she has selflessly performed; from helping residents in the aftermath of the New Years’ fire or the intake of refugee families following Hurricane Maria. The people of Holyoke will be forever thankful.”

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Libros / Books

El Sol Latino October 2019

Aftershocks of Disaster Puerto Rico Before and After the Storm Edited by YARIMAR BONILLA and MARISOL LEBRÓN Chicago: Haymarket Books | September 24, 2019 | 384 pages The book is an in-depth look at Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and the preexisting crisis that conditioned this historic disaster.

The concept of “aftershocks” is used in the context of earthquakes to describe the jolts felt after the initial quake, but no disaster is a singular event. Aftershocks of Disaster examines the lasting effects of hurricane Maria, not just the effects of the wind or the rain, but delving into what followed: state failure, social abandonment, capitalization on human misery, and the collective trauma produced by the botched response.

Reviews • “In this gripping collection of essays, poems and photos, Aftershocks of Disaster captures both the roots of Puerto Rico’s current crisis in its continuing colonial status and the determination of the island’s people to persevere and forge a better future.” —Juan González, author of Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America, and co-host of Democracy Now! • “Broad in scope, passionate, and urgent, Aftershocks is a necessary anthology of Puerto Ricans telling the story not just of Maria but of resistance to colonialism, austerity and disaster capitalism.” —Molly Crabapple • “Hurricane Maria was a major disaster. It is also, potentially, a transformative event. The contributors to this powerful volume explain how big structural forces - climate change, colonialism, corruption, and capitalism - contributed to the devastation, but they also chart a radical path forward, towards a more just and sustainable world.” —Eric Klinenberg, author of Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life • “For those of us who were forced out of Puerto Rico and who watched the hurricane from outside, this book provides beautiful and painful clarity about how we got here and the struggles behind our survival.” —Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez, Boricua Activist, artist and Chicago Council member

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Acompáñenos a la Recepción General de STCC! Miércoles, 16 de Octubre Ven a vernos entre 4:00pm–6:30pm Edificio 19 / Primer Piso Por la Entrada del Welcome Center

a siga ¡Con Inmediat el o isión mavera m d i A la Pr 020! para Otoño 2 ipción de la nscr ria tra cunda a su Traig escuela seo HiSET. D o GE

Aprenda más sobre: • Grado Asociado y Programas de Certificación • Deportes • Clases de HiSET y ELL • Ayuda Financiera • Entrenamiento sin crédito y Certificaciones • Aprendizaje en Línea • Oportunidades para transferencia Si necesita acomodación para participar plenamente en este evento, por favor póngase en contacto con la Oficina de STCC de Servicios para Discapacitados al (413) 755-4785 por lo menos dos semanas de anticipación.

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Cita del Mes/ Quote of the Month

9/17/19 El Sol Latino 1/4 page: 4.75” x 5.75” Manuel Frau Ramos: manuelfrau@gmail.com Runs: October 2019

“It has been so important for me to embrace what I personally bring to the table.

Let your stories inform your voice.”

VIVIAN NUÑEZ, founder of Too Damn, a resource and community for teens and young adults who have lost someone they love.

She produces digital content for other creatives and entrepreneurs.

Also, Vivian is the creator behind Creating Espacios, a resource for the next generation of trailblazing Latinas.

Veanos@www.issuu.com/elsollatino

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Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino October 2019

15th Anniversary Celebration Countdown!

2019 November 2019 November

Highlights of El Sol Latino 2016-2018

El Sol Latino October 2019

15th Anniversary Celebration Countdown!

El Sol Latino Memorable Front Pages 2016- 2018

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Opinión / Opinion

El Sol Latino October 2019

The Political Candidates Speak about Poverty: What’s Where and What is Missing!

by MIGUEL ARCE and WALTER MULLIN

“For capitalism to work, we need each other. I am not willing to stand by while billion dollar corporations benefit from tax breaks and funding for food assistance, education and medical research is slashed.” (Warren) “America has seen enough of a handful of people growing rich at the cost of our nation descending into economic crisis.” (Booker) “Poverty is the thing that can bring the country down.” (Biden) Earning a reasonable minimum wage “is an economic justice issue and it must be addressed quickly.” (Harris) “Do you think it is moral that 20% of the children in this country are living in poverty?.....The United States has more people living in poverty than almost any other time in the modern history of our country… in a democratic, civilized society, none of our people should be hungry or living in desperation. We need to expand social security, not cut it. We need to increase funding for nutrition programs, not cut them.” (Sanders) “Let’s promise to deal with 1000 homes in 1000 days.” (Buttigieg) “The number one way that we can address these long-term challenges of poverty, of education, is to invest in early childhood education.” (Castro) “You can’t get rid of poverty by giving people money.” (O’Rouke)

DR. WALTER MULLIN, Professor of Social Work and MIGUEL ARCE, Associate Professor of Social Work at Springfield College.

A new study recently released by MassBudget found that some of the poorest communities in Massachusetts are located in the Pioneer Valley.

Almost 20,000 children are living in poverty in Hampden County. The poverty rate in Holyoke is 28.6%. One out of every 3.5 residents lives in poverty. In Springfield, the rate was 24.7%. The poverty rate across the state of Massachusetts is 11.1%. People live in poverty because the resources at their disposal are insufficient to generate a basic level of income. They have no ability to pay for groceries, buy homes, save for education with confidence.

As the election for a new president of the United States heats up, all American citizens, both rich and poor, benefit from knowing how each of the candidates understands life in poverty, how they characterize people who live without resources and how they plan to address poverty. While most Democratic candidates advocate that the federal government take active steps in assisting those in poverty, the Republican stance tends to be based on supporting a successful capitalist economy. While action speaks louder than words, the statements made by all candidates serve to offer insights into their plans for all people to enjoy the benefits of economic success and give citizens the choice on how to vote. And then, after listening and appreciating the words, it is worth noting the things that are not yet said. Unspoken words often convey as much as spoken ones. Some of the words spoken by the Democratic candidates in the recent months include: Desde Puerto Rico para el mundo— "la primera y única emisora de tv con licencia para la historia"

While O’Rouke emphasizes that giving money alone cannot eliminate poverty, a newcomer to American politics, Andrew Yang, is proposing a Freedom Dividend that guarantees payment of $1,000 per month for all citizens over the ages of 18. Yang is concerned about the technological shifts that will result of the loss of millions of jobs in the coming decade.

The addition of $1,000 a month would resource for basic human survival.

Yang’s plan would be financed through the value added tax from the economy.

While Joe Biden, one of the front-runners in the Democratic party, asserts that not addressing poverty undermines the success of American democracy, specific details, programs, and action steps matter. When candidates name their plans and support them from a social justice perspective, citizens themselves can assess how a plan affirms all their fellow countrymen. All people have the human rights to live in a home with adequate food, clothing, work and education for their children.

The statistics from the Mass Budget are compelling. Communities in Hampden County have a problem that could have a political solution.

Political candidates for the office of President of the United States must lead toward the solution with their words and their actions.

This guest opinion is one in a series on living in poverty. DR. WALTER MULLIN (wmullin@springfieldcollege.edu), Professor of Social Work and MIGUEL ARCE (marce@springfieldcollege.edu), Associate Professor of Social Work at Springfield College.

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Opinión / Opinion

El Sol Latino October 2019

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The More You Know, The More You’ll Vote “No”

by DAVID YOS • dave@holyoketaxservice.com The first “Vote No” lawn sign I delivered for this campaign was to a resident of public housing; how gratifying that someone in humble circumstances -- and one of the few who would not immediately suffer a direct hit should the ill-convinced debt exclusion measure be approved by the voters of Holyoke -- was able to see the larger picture, and what is clearly in the best interest of our community as a whole. And how in sharp contrast to certain deceitful politicians who want to keep our people in the dark, in order to serve their own personal interests and agendas.

Needless to say, most of the proponents of the ballot measure have only the best intentions, yet do not see beyond the emotional appeal of “just do it for the kids,” just as the vast majority of opponents fully support providing the best possible education for our children, but do not believe this is the right approach for a poorer community such as ours.

To go beyond that emotional level we must first consider the distinction between a progressive tax, such as the income tax, and a regressive one, such as the property tax, which under the proposed plan will cover forty-five percent of the proposed cost. Without getting into all the nuances, the former says “the more your income, the more you pay,” whereas the latter “the less your income, the more you pay (as a percentage of that income).”

Under the current proposal, those hit the hardest will be those one rung up the economic ladder from those in public or subsidized housing: low-tomoderate income market-rate renters and homeowners. While those with higher incomes may complain more, and will actually pay more as a dollar amount, they generally will not be hurt as much due the regressivity of the tax. However, it should also be noted that while we may not weep for the big corporate taxpayers, they do both provide many of our residents with employment, and bear a significant part of the tax burden, which otherwise would fall on us. That is why we say Keep Holyoke Affordable for All. Considering that Holyoke is the eighth poorest community in the Commonwealth, with a per capita income of about $16,000, versus one of around $400,000 in the wealthiest, if this goes through it will probably set the record for a community being forced to pay the highest percentage of its income toward school construction (even if we got up to the full eighty percent reimbursement, contributing the remaining twenty percent, which I believe just about all of us are willing to do, we’d still be putting in more than the richest would). This is why it’s not a good plan, not only from the perspective of fiscal conservatism, but from that of social justice as well. It is likely to drive out the families of the poor children the new schools are most supposed to benefit, due to rising housing costs.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority is probably half-expecting we will reject this lousy deal, so fears that we will be shut out for not going along with a “once in a generation opportunity” are really quite unfounded. Just as our neighbors in Amherst have learned, rather than trying to shove a predetermined outcome down our throats, through all kinds of contortions of logic and outright falsehoods, we must instead go through the more lengthy, but worthwhile, process of letting the community consider various options, and work toward building a consensus.

Please do not underestimate the lengths those aforementioned politicians will go to rallying their troops for election day; not only must we get to the polls ourselves on November fifth, but in the meantime we must talk with friends, family, neighbors, and if we’re willing even strangers, to help them to grasp the bigger picture. Once we get through this unfortunate passage, we can then achieve a solution that well serves both the education of our children, and our community as a whole. Remember, there is a better way!

DAVID YOZ is a resident and small business owner in Holyoke.

Residentes de Holyoke: protejan a nuestros inquilinos, dueños de casa y negocios. Podemos encontrar mejores recursos que sean más justos y más asequibles para construir o mejorar los edificios escolares. Por favor voten “No” en la pregunta de la boleta de exclusión de deuda este 5 de noviembre.

Keep Holyoke Affordable for All realizará las siguientes sesiones de información/organización:

Miércoles, 16 de octubre Capri Pizza 18 Cabot Street 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Jueves, 17 de octubre Holyoke Senior Center 291 Pine Street 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Fechas sujetas a cambio. Confirme en nuestro sitio web: www.BetterForHolyoke.com.

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Opinión / Opinion

El Sol Latino October 2019

A 151 años del Grito de Lares: una historia inconclusa por Dr. ALEXIS O. TIRADO RIVERA Universidad de Puerto Rico en Cayey Puerto Rico recuerda este año la gesta de hace 151 años cuando puertorriqueños de distintas clases sociales, se levantaron en contra del gobierno español en la Isla. Fueron cientos quienes, la noche del 23 de septiembre de 1868, salieron de la hacienda de Manuel Rojas, en el barrio Pezuelas de Lares, a tomar las riendas del país. ¿Qué pasaba en Puerto Rico que provocó aquel acontecimiento que hoy recordamos? En primer lugar, el gobierno español había llamado a los puertorriqueños y cubanos a constituir lo que se denominó como la Junta Informativa de Ultramar en 1865. Aquella Junta resultó en un verdadero fracaso. Los puertorriqueños que participaron de la misma- entre ellos el abogado hormigüereño Segundo Ruiz Belvis- peticionaban reformas administrativas, además, de la abolición de la esclavitud inmediata con o sin indemnización (excepto Manuel Zeno Correa, quien representaba a la facción conservadora). Los cubanos querían reformas también, pero tenían sus reservas en cuanto a la abolición inmediata de la esclavitud. De hecho, en este último tema, los cubanos dependían de la mano de obra esclava en los cañaverales cubanos.

Ante la negativa del gobierno español en atender los asuntos políticos de sus dos últimas colonias en América, la Junta se disolvió y los comisionados tuvieron que regresar a Puerto Rico. Tan pronto Segundo Ruiz Belvis pisó tierra en la Isla, el gobernador de Puerto Rico en ese momento, el general Marchessi, ordenó su arresto en unión a otros más, entre ellos el médico caborrojeño Ramón Emeterio Betances. El Gobernador General los acusaba de ser los autores del motín de los artilleros de San Juan, quienes se habían amotinados en protesta por las malas condiciones de trabajo que mantenían en los fuertes militares de San Juan; aparte, de que no se les extendió los aumentos de sueldos que se habían otorgados a los militares en la península. Sin embargo, cabe destacar, que tanto Ruiz Belvis como Betances, no tuvieron nada que ver con dichos sucesos.

Ramón Emeterio Betances como Segundo Ruiz Belvis, fueron desterrados de la Isla por el gobernador, y enviados a España. De hecho, el gobernador los había tachado de “conspiradores”. En el trayecto, con la parada en la isla de Saint Thomas, ambos lograron burlar la vigilancia y salir rumbo a Santo Domingo y de allí a Nueva York. En esta última, se unieron a líderes cubanos, que habían formado la Sociedad Republicana de Cuba y Puerto Rico, a la cual se unieron tanto Betances, Ruiz Belvis, así como otro médico puertorriqueño que había sido desterrado también, José Francisco Basora.

Estos denunciaron las condiciones de los puertorriqueños, especialmente los de las clases jornaleras. Hay que recordar que el régimen español había impuesto el régimen de la libreta de jornaleros durante en el año de 1848, siendo un sistema opresor para el campesinado puertorriqueño.

Como parte de la ruta revolucionaria que desembocaría en Lares en septiembre de 1868, había que contar con apoyo. Segundo Ruiz Belvis, es enviado a Chile, con el propósito de procurar ese apoyo. Sin embargo, allí muere- al parecer por causas naturales-.

Posteriormente, Betances viajó a Santo Domingo y allí constituyó la Junta Revolucionaria de Puerto Rico, con la ayuda de amigos entre estos: Celis Aguilera, Carlos Elio Lacroix, Francisco José Basora, Mariano Ruiz Belvis y, bien interesante, el arzobispo de Santo Domingo, Fernando Arturo Meriño.

El médico Betances, esperaba recibir la ayuda del gobierno dominicano, entre estas se encontraba el suministro de armas.

Ramón Emeterio Betances, circuló en noviembre de 1867 su proclama titulado: Diez Mandamientos de los hombres libres, donde exigía la abolición de la esclavitud, libertades de culto, de palabra, de imprenta; el

derecho a votar los impuestos, entre otros derechos fundamentales del pueblo. Ese documento se le puede considerar como la base principal de las denuncias puertorriqueñas contra el régimen español.

A la formación de la junta revolucionaria puertorriqueña en Santo Domingo y la proclama, le siguió la constitución de los comités revolucionarios locales en la Isla. Los comités constituidos y quealgunos de estosparticiparon de la revolución en Lares el 23 Obelisco a Héroes y Heroínas en la de septiembre de 1868, Plaza de la Revolución en Lares fueron: Capá Prieto, por Mayagüez; Centro Bravo, en Lares; Lanzador del Norte, en Camuy; Lanzador del Sur, en Ponce, y, El Porvenir, en San Sebastián.

Esa noche, la del 23 de septiembre de 1868, cerca de mil personas marcharon hasta la Alcaldía de Lares, tomando la misma y encarcelando al alcalde y al secretario municipal; de allí, a la plaza pública donde quemaron cientos de libretas de jornaleros y libros de contabilidad; posteriormente, proclamaron la República de Puerto Rico en la santa iglesia Católica de Lares, donde el párroco de la misma presidió un “Te Deum”, en acción de gracias. Francisco Ramírez, se convertía en el primer presidente de la República de Puerto Rico.

Los que participaron de la gesta de Lares esa noche y la madrugada del 24 de septiembre de 1868 trasladados a San Sebastián, fueron campesinos, jornaleros, algunos profesionales, hacendados, libertos, entre otros. Estos grupos agobiados por los altos impuestos que cobraba tanto el estado como el municipio, se levantaron contra el régimen español. Su consigna era la de “libertad”, según consta en las causas seguidas contra estos en Aguadilla.

El Grito de Lares no terminó esa noche y madrugada; días y semanas tardaron las autoridades en apresar a varios de los participantes de Lares.

Muchos de estos se internaron en la cordillera al oeste de Puerto Rico. Tal fue el caso de Carlos Elio Lacroix, entre otros. Al gobierno español no le quedó otro remedio que suspender las causas contra los revolucionarios de Lares al entrar el año de 1870.

El Grito de Lares se convirtió en la conciencia del pueblo puertorriqueño.

Allí denunciaban la opresión del sistema que por casi 400 años mantenía al pueblo de Puerto Rico sin libertades alguna. Sin embargo, uno de los logros políticos importantes luego de Lares, fue la autorización para la formación de partidos políticos en la Isla a partir de 1870. Celebremos esta gesta histórica de este grupo de puertorriqueños que no tuvieron miedo y comenzaron aquella ruta que hoy día está inconclusa.

Dr. ALEXIS O. TIRADO RIVERA (alexis.tirado2@upr.edu) es profesor de historia y humanidades en la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Cayey. En el 2015 publicó el libro Historia de una ciudad: Guayama. 1898-1930: Ediciones Bayoán.

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Educación / Education

El Sol Latino October 2019

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This bilingual debate team in NYC is fighting ‘English-only norms’ at national competitions

by ALEX ZIMMERMAN Originally appeared on Chakbeat.org | September 19, 2019 A wave of anxiety washed over Anyely Rijo as she stepped onto a debate stage in Washington, D.C. The 13-year-old student from Brooklyn’s M.S. 50 was used to debating other schools across the city in her native Spanish, part of a small but growing cadre of bilingual debaters. Now, with help from an interpreter, Rijo and her debate partner were squaring off for the first time at a national tournament in English.

It didn’t go well.

Rijo, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic last year, said she struggled to follow the arguments the opposing team was making about the debate topic: whether the United States should substantially reduce restrictions on legal immigration. Their opponents lobbed a lot of arguments that felt overwhelming and disparate, from open borders to the politics of refugee resettlement.

Worse, she worried the interpreter wouldn’t quickly translate their arguments, leading Rijo and her partner to repeat themselves, sacrificing valuable time.

“It was the first time we were debating and facing someone in English,” Rijo said in a recent interview that was interpreted by Carolina Hidalgo, one of her debate coaches. “I was scared, nervous — we cried a lot.” She and her partner lost all six of their debates.

The defeat stung. M.S. 50’s debate team, which has taken home three city championships in four years, is a source of pride for the school, which just five years ago was targeted for rapid turnaround under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Renewal program. Ben Honoroff, the school’s principal, has infused the curriculum with debate, which he credits partly for recent boosts in enrollment and test scores.

But the school’s staff is also pioneering an effort to include more English learners, who make up 18% of the school’s students, in its extracurricular debate programs. At first, the school’s Spanishspeaking students mostly debated each other.

“They were like, ‘it’s not fair that we can’t go to these debate tournaments,’” Honoroff said. “They were hungry for competition against other schools.”

PHOTO: Alex Zimmerman / Chalkbeat Anyely Rijo, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, is on M.S. 50’s bilingual debate team.

M.S. 50 helped persuade the citywide debate league to include Spanishspeaking debaters and has coaxed a handful of other schools to participate in bilingual citywide debates. M.S. 50 even set up a debate

via Skype with a school in the Dominican Republic.

Buoyed by the Spanish debaters’ success at citywide tournaments, M.S. 50 officials wanted to enter them in national competitions that have historically been conducted exclusively in English.

“I was excited about challenging the English-only norms in the national debate tournaments,” Honoroff said.

Officials knew there would be challenges involved: The school would have to raise thousands of dollars to hire an interpreter. Honoroff, whose office is adorned with press clippings from his student’s debate triumphs, had never seen a tournament that had formal procedures for hosting teams that don’t speak English. He warned students they would likely be met with resistance.

“It’s a lot easier to not have a Spanish-language debate team,” Honoroff said.

Still, after Rijo’s experience in Washington, it felt daunting to compete in an upcoming tournament in Texas that was already in the works and would again require them to debate in Spanish with an interpreter simultaneously rendering their arguments into English. And it wasn’t just because they lost every round.

Back in Washington, “[Other] coaches were making our kids cry and making them feel uncomfortable that they were speaking in Spanish,” said Hidalgo, the bilingual debate coach. “They came back and they were really defeated.”

But Rijo, Hidalgo, and other team members decided to move forward with preparations for Texas. They began prep sessions on Saturdays, and Hidalgo put in extra hours translating the English-speaking team’s debate prep sessions, briefing materials, and arguments so the bilingual team would be better prepared.

The subject — whether the U.S. should promote much more immigration — was also important to Rijo.

“I feel like I have to debate this topic. I have to change the mindset of people who think we’re rapists or criminals,” Rijo said, referring to comments Donald Trump made when he announced his run for president. “I wanted to change the mindset of all the people who think that we are bad people.”

When they got to the tournament in Dallas, things seemed to be going well.

Hidalgo began each debate by explaining that the team would debate in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation and that everyone would have to wear headsets.

“At the beginning they were very respectful of it,” Hidalgo said.

Rijo was still nervous, but she felt more prepared than she had in Washington. “I knew how they were going to speak, how they were going to translate. We were ready for some of the arguments we were not ready for in D.C.,” she said.

But by the third of six debates, one of the opposing teams had lodged a complaint, seeking to disqualify the bilingual team.

M.S. 50 hadn’t technically gotten permission to debate using interpreters from the National Speech & Debate Association, the organization running the tournament. “If I had asked and they said no, that would have put us in a little bit of a bind,” explained Honoroff.

The complaint didn’t surprise some of M.S. 50’s English-speaking debaters.

“We’d be walking down the hall and we’d encounter a team who already went against our bilingual team and they’d be poking fun of them,” said Kevin Ascencion, a 14-year-old M.S. 50 graduate who made it to the semifinals in that tournament.

Honoroff explained to tournament officials that the Spanish-speaking debaters didn’t need extra time and the interpreter wasn’t one of the school’s debate coaches, which might have given them an unfair advantage. continued on next page

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Ciencias / Science

El Sol Latino October 2019

Por qué consumir azúcar en exceso es malo para tu cuerpo por ANA PAMELA TORRES OCAMPO Es muy fácil caer en el hábito de comprar comida procesada cuando sabemos que vamos a tener un día muy largo o una semana ocupada.

Siendo estudiante graduada reconozco este patrón perfectamente. Me encuentro en el supermercado y es mas fácil comprar una comida hecha que sentarme a planear todo un menú para la semana que viene. Y a veces, incluso más barato.

Sin embargo, mi perspectiva cambió enormemente después de ver un documental en Netflix “ Fed up” que explora la cantidad de azúcar añadida que le ponen a ciertos alimentos, especialmente alimentos procesados y cómo el azúcar ha ido creando una generación de seres humanos obesos, especialmente aquí en Estados Unidos. En el documental mostraron estudios donde, desafortunadamente, si empezabas a ser obeso durante tu infancia, estadísticamente te iba a ser mas difícil perder peso cuando fueras adulto ya que a lo largo de tu desarrollo tuviste una dieta no saludable y tu cuerpo se acostumbró a eso. La gente obesa es más propensa a desarrollar problemas de salud a edades mas tempranas: obesidad, diabetes 2, presión alta, depresión y siguen saliendo estudios que relacionan altos niveles de azúcar consumidos con enfermedades.

(Photo Credit:Diabetescomoyo.org)

Por lo tanto, después de ver el documental me puse a explorar la cantidad de azúcar de los productos que compraba y me sorprendí mucho porque encontré que añaden azúcar hasta al kétchup. Leyendo un poco más, me informé y me di cuenta que muchos productos buscan un mejor sabor que

ofrecerle al cliente y generalmente recurren al azúcar porque es un aditivo bastante barato. Desde el punto de vista científico, en nuestra lengua tenemos receptores, tipo como un switch que se prende y se paga cuando detecta azúcar. Esto le manda una señal a nuestro cerebro para decirle: oye, estás comiendo azúcar. Pero resulta que esta señal de azúcar se parece mucho a otras señales que le mandas a tu cerebro cuando tienes algún tipo de adicción a drogas como la cocaína o heroína. Por consiguiente, no es nada raro que nos guste tanto el azúcar, es natural y causa placer al cerebro.

Existen varias agencias gubernamentales que regulan cuánta azúcar pueden añadirle a productos alimenticios procesados. No obstante, sus reglas no están actualizadas y usan estudios que se hicieron hace años que no sirven de mucho. Lamentablemente, a pesar de ser una agencia gubernamental, las regulaciones no están haciendo mucho por proteger la salud del consumidor. Así que te invito a que antes de que añadas algo a tu carrito de compra en el supermercado, tomes 30 segundos y mires la cantidad de azúcar añadida y te cuestiones si podrías escoger una opción mas saludable.

A mi me tomó mucho tiempo informarme, leer y preguntar pero ahora casi siempre cocino todas mis comidas en casa con vegetales frescos, frutas y carnes. De esta manera controlo cuánta azúcar entra a mi cuerpo. Fue un proceso largo y tuve que tener paciencia. Definitivamente no fue un cambio de un día para otro pero me encuentro mas saludable. También hay días en los que me doy un break y me como esa brownie de Nutella o alguna otra cosa que se me antoje. Pero siempre trato de tener un balance que es importante para poder hacer un cambio en cualquier rutina que quieras alterar o añadir a tu estilo de vida. Estos pequeños cambios se magnifican a medida que vas creciendo. Se lo puedes transmitir a tus hijos, nietos, sobrinos los cuales entonces aprenderán a tener una vida mas sana.

ANA PAMELA TORRES OCAMPO (a.torres.ocampo@gmail.com) is a PhD student at the Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) Program - UMass Amherst.

This bilingual debate team in NYC is fighting ‘English-only norms’ at national competitions “Our argument was that the national discourse on immigration is problematic right now and that one of the ways to improve the discourse would be to increase the number of voices, including bilingual voices,” he said. “They were actually really intrigued and supportive.”

In the end, the debate association allowed Rijo and her partner to finish all six debate rounds. Their final record? Four wins, two losses.

“I [felt] good, because I knew I was getting into their head,” Rijo said. “I felt proud of myself.”

ALEX ZIMMERMAN (azimmerman@chalkbeat.org) joined the Chalkbeat team in 2016. He was most recently a staff writer at the Pittsburgh City Paper and previously reported for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His work has appeared in the Village Voice, Vice, Atlas Obscura and the investigative nonprofit PublicSource.

CHALKBEAT is a nonprofit news organization committed to covering one of America’s most important stories: the effort to improve schools for all children, especially those who have historically lacked access to a quality education. We are mission-driven, in that we believe that every child deserves an excellent education, and that a strong press is vital to making that happen. Yet we are also fiercely independent, in that we do not take a position on the best path for achieving equity.

PHOTO: Courtesy of M.S. 50 / The M.S. 50 debate team at a national tournament in Texas this summer.

continued from page 13

Deportes / Sports

El Sol Latino October 2019

Repiten los Legends – Campeones 2019

El equipo Legends, quienes fueron campeones en 2019, volvieron a coronarse campeones de la temporada 2019 de la Liga de los Old Timers de Holyoke

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El Sol Latino October 2019

Fine Arts Center

Diversión Familiar en el FAC

¡Experimente la magia y la emoción del teatro y vea cómo un dinosauro, una tormenta de nieve, cuentos chinos y personajes favoritos de libros y de televisión toman vida en el escenario del UMass Amherest Fine Arts Center! Boletos para jóvenes de 17 años y menos a $10 solamente.

FINDING NEVERLAND Martes, February 25, 7 p.m.

Fine Arts Center Concert Hall La magia del clásico cuento de cómo Peter se convirtió en Pan cobra vida de manera espectacular en este evento teatral que le encantará a toda la familia.

Aproximadamente 2.5 horas de duración | Apropiado para edades de ocho años y mayores | Food Truck llega a las 6 p.m.

LIGHTWIRE THEATER: DINO-LIGHT Domingo, Octubre 20, 2 p.m.

Fine Arts Center Concert Hall Esta aventura que brilla en la oscuridad sobre un dinosauro perdido ha sido aclamada por el público a través de todo el mundo por su combinación innovadora de marionetas, tecnología y baile.

Festival para la Familia en el vestíbulo empezando a la 1 p.m.

Aproximadamente 1 hora de duración | Apropiado para todas las edades | Food Truck llega a las 12:30 p.m.

WE SHALL OVERCOME: A CELEBRATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., FEATURING DAMIEN SNEED Martes, Enero 28, 7:30 p.m.

Fine Arts Center Concert Hall

We Shall Overcome presenta un repertorio que va a través de las tradiciones musicales afroamericanas que electrificaron a generaciones de defensores y activistas de derechos civiles entretejidas con las palabras del Dr. King en discursos grabados.

Aproximadamente 1.5 horas | Apropiado para todas las edades | Food Truck llega a las 6 p.m.

Miércoles, Diciembre 4, 7 p.m., Fine Arts Center Concert Hall

Aproximadamente 1.5 horas de duración | Apropiado para todas las edades | Food Truck llega a las 5:30 p.m.

Para boletos llamar al: 413-545-2511 ó al 800-999-UMAS ó en línea fineartscenter.com

Cirque Flip Fabrique lleva a la audiencia en un viaje loco, divertido, poético y tierno, y le invita a perderse en un momento mágico de invierno.

Aproximadamente 1.5 horas de duración | Apropiado para todas las edades | Food Truck llega a las 6 p.m.

A Monkey Baa Theatre Company Production DIARY OF A WOMBAT Based on the book by Jackie French and Bruce Whately Martes, Abril 9, 7 p.m.

Fine Arts Center Concert Hall

NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY PRESENT: A CELTIC FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Esta temporada festiva, únase a los galardonados virtuosos del violín, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, mientras ellos le dan la bienvenida al maravilloso mundo de su celebración familiar de Navidad.

CIRQUE FLIP FABRIQUE: BLIZZARD Miércoles, Marzo 18, 7:30 p.m.

Fine Arts Center Concert Hall

Conozca a Mothball, el wombat mas pícaro en Australia. Basado en el galardonado libro de Jackie French y Bruce Whatley, la magia de las marionetas y la música en vivo le dan vida a esta encantadora historia.

Asian Arts & Culture Program GUGU DRUM GROUP Martes, Febrero 11, 7:30 p.m.

Fine Arts Center Concert Hall Este galardonado grupo teatral de tambores incorpora técnicas tradicionales chinas con movimiento y maravillosas proyecciones para presentar proverbios, fábulas y cuentos chinos.

Aproximadamente 1.5 horas de duración | Apropiado para todas las edades | Food Truck llega a las 6 p.m.

Festival para la Familia en el lobby comenzando a las 6 p.m.

Aproximadamente 1.5 horas de duración | Apropiado para todas las edades | Food Truck llega a las 5:30 p.m.