Celina Record > News
New group brings new things to Cinco de Mayo
File photo
Dancers perform at last year's Cinco de Mayo celebration on the square. This year a new organization, El Puente de Celina will organize the event.
Contests for jalapeno eating and the best grito part of event
By Penny Rathbun
prathbun@starlocalnews.com
El Puente de Celina is a new organization formed to organize the Cinco de Mayo celebration and to build a bridge between the various cultures in Celina.
Celina residents serve as officers for the new organization. Dago Rodriguez is president, Vincent Ramos is vice president, Ben Jones is in charge of public relations and Sandy Carter serves as secretary. Diego Matehuala is treasurer.
The group is in the process of becoming a nonprofit organization so that donations can be tax deductible.
Funds raised from the third Cinco de Mayo celebration this year will be used for scholarships. The group will present a $1,000 scholarship to a Hispanic student and to a non-Hispanic student. The members hope the scholarship fund will grow so they can present more and larger scholarships in the years to com.
Carter said the city of Celina and the Celina Chamber of Commerce are working with the new group.
The celebration will take place on the square. New this year will be the rooster dance. Participants tie balloons to their ankles. The dance requires they try to break the other dancers' balloons by stomping on them. There will be a jalapeno eating contest and a competition called The Best Grito. That is the yell Hispanic people give when they feel good, angry, sad or for any reason at all. Non-Hispanics are definitely encouraged to participate.
There will be the activities that have been part of the first two Cinco de Mayos on the square, pinatas and dancing. Dance groups have been rehearsing at Old Celina Park for weeks.
There will also be a musical chairs contest and a DJ will be there during the whole event playing a variety of music.
“We're excited about the spirit of belonging and the spirit of the community,” Carter said. “It doesn't matter where each of us is from. We have more and more people that want to get involved. All this working together instead of competing is good.”
For information on the event which will be held May 5 visit cincodemayo.com or elpuentedecelina.com.
By Penny Rathbun
prathbun@starlocalnews.com
El Puente de Celina is a new organization formed to organize the Cinco de Mayo celebration and to build a bridge between the various cultures in Celina.
Celina residents serve as officers for the new organization. Dago Rodriguez is president, Vincent Ramos is vice president, Ben Jones is in charge of public relations and Sandy Carter serves as secretary. Diego Matehuala is treasurer.
The group is in the process of becoming a nonprofit organization so that donations can be tax deductible.
Funds raised from the third Cinco de Mayo celebration this year will be used for scholarships. The group will present a $1,000 scholarship to a Hispanic student and to a non-Hispanic student. The members hope the scholarship fund will grow so they can present more and larger scholarships in the years to com.
Carter said the city of Celina and the Celina Chamber of Commerce are working with the new group.
The celebration will take place on the square. New this year will be the rooster dance. Participants tie balloons to their ankles. The dance requires they try to break the other dancers' balloons by stomping on them. There will be a jalapeno eating contest and a competition called The Best Grito. That is the yell Hispanic people give when they feel good, angry, sad or for any reason at all. Non-Hispanics are definitely encouraged to participate.
There will be the activities that have been part of the first two Cinco de Mayos on the square, pinatas and dancing. Dance groups have been rehearsing at Old Celina Park for weeks.
There will also be a musical chairs contest and a DJ will be there during the whole event playing a variety of music.
“We're excited about the spirit of belonging and the spirit of the community,” Carter said. “It doesn't matter where each of us is from. We have more and more people that want to get involved. All this working together instead of competing is good.”
For information on the event which will be held May 5 visit cincodemayo.com or elpuentedecelina.com.
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