English
Spanish
Portuguese
Arabic
Haitian Creole
Chinese (Traditional)
Special to The Advocate
by Mary Ellen O’Meara
On Saturday, September 20, at Malden City Hall Plaza, the North Shore Hispanic Association (NSHA) hosted an event that can only be described as “¡fantástico!” The weather accompanied our desire to celebrate Hispanic Heritage this year, setting the stage for an enjoyable day with music, dancing, food and fun. The Tu Hispanidad flag was raised for the first time in Middlesex County, highlighting another first for Malden. Mayor Gary Christenson, Superintendent Timothy Sippel and several city councillors joined in the parade, which marched proudly up Pleasant Street to the sound of trumpets. We were then pleasantly surprised by the language skills of several city leaders, who were able to address the crowd in Spanish!
The festival was very well attended, which was not surprising, considering that it offered empanadas for $1, colorfully dressed dancers and music that made it hard to keep still. The atmosphere was joyous, with young and old alike enjoying the show. Members of the Senior Center entertained us with a stunning Latin dance routine performed with their teacher, Luis Arango, which amazed everyone. Primera Clase Latin Band played all types of rhythms; special guest singers presented various genres of Latin music. The dancer groups were spectacular. They delighted the audience with extraordinary performances of traditional dances, which showcased their colorful costumes — beautiful full circle skirts, which flared out dramatically with every turn and spin. Every movement reflected the passion and joy of the culture and drew the audience’s eyes. ¡Fantástico!
Gladys Rivera Rogers, President of NSHA, and her team outdid themselves to bring this happy event to Malden and share it with our neighbors. NSHA would like to wholeheartedly thank their sponsors, without whom the event would not have been possible: Bread of Life, Cambridge Health Alliance, Chinese Culture Connection, DCF Foster Parent Recruitment, Friends of the Malden Public Library, Malden Reads, Malden Pride, Mass Senior Action Council, Tufts Medical, YMCA, Anna Thai Embroidery, Chris Burgan, John Saia and many more!
The North Shore Hispanic Association is always looking for new members to continue the legacy — contact NHSA at no***************************@***il.com.
