Lorain’s Mexican Mutual Society
is looking for
niñas of Mexican descent
for its
Cinco de Mayo Celebrations
on May 8.

Sign-up deadline is Jan. 31, 2010.

Call Marie at 440-288-0144.

IN MEMORIUM: LOUIS GARCÍA SR.
Oct. 11, 1934 – January 17, 2009

It’s Been One Year
God saw you getting tired,; He did what He thought best; He put His arms around you, and said, “Come and rest.” He opened up His golden gates on that heartbreaking day; And with his arms around you, You gently slipped away. It broke our hearts to lose you; you did not go alone; A part of us went with you, The day God called you home.

We Miss You!
Love from Nora, Mike, Carmen, Louis Jr., Virginia, and Kayla, your grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the rest of your family. 

UPDATE: At the 7^th Annual Latino Scholarship Day with the Toledo Mud Hens (July 26, 2009), La Prensa announced that Bryan Salazar (a LASSO alumnus from St. Francis de Sales High School) was the recipient of a $500 scholarship. Mr. Salazar has completed his first semester at UT, majoring in Spanish and International Business. He is a member of LSU.

Call 216-961-5800 for details.

Chevo Torres, María Morales, Carmen Barbosa, Connie Rodriguez, and Mary Jane Flores of Latins United make Holiday Food Baskets for the needy at Latins United on Nov. 23, 2009

In the photo are SAO members Mary Morales, Connie Rodríguez, & Carmen Barbosa.

Welcome to the World

Kayla Retholtz!

November 4, 2009

Felicidades Jennifer and David Retholtz!

The Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center, Inc. celebrated its 13th Día de los Muertos on Nov. 7, 2009. In the photos are: Arturo Quintero (Treasurer of SQACC), Dora López (President of SQACC), & Lucas County Auditor Anita López, followed by Thelma Briseño (Secretary of SQACC) & José Balderas (Director of SQACC). Entertainment by Carlos Enrique González, Andy Trejo, and Francisco Ibarra.

The Lucas County Latino/Hispanic Democratic Caucus hosted a fundraiser for Gov. Ted Strickland on Nov. 9, 2009, at El Camino Real Restaurant (West).
Pictured are, L-R: Gary Johnson (Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), Isabel Framer (Language Access Consultants LLC), Gov. Ted Strickland (Ohio), Judge Keila Cosme (6th District Court of Appeals), Margarita DeLeón (Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Board), Jerry Chabler (Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Board), and Deb Ortiz-Flores (Lucas County Department of Job and Family Services).
Pictured right: Lourdes Santiago with Robert Torres and Gov Strickland

Happy Belated Birthday Carla Soto
Oct 25
—Con amor, tu familia

Halloween 2009

The Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center is hosting its 13^th Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, 6:00-11:00PM. Altar viewings at La Galería, 1224 S. Broadway, Toledo, as illustrated by the La Prensa photo
from 2008. For info/reservations, 419.241.1655.

(Oct.23)

Toledo, Ohio

Happy 12th Birthday

Alicia Sánchez

October 16

Love you Mucho..Mucho

Mom & Charlie

Congratulations Lori & Kyle Riffle

born Oct.5, ‘09 @ 7:51pm, weighing 7lbs.10ozs. 20ins. long @ Toledo Hospital.

Following the 11th FLOC Constitutional Convention on Saturday, October 3, 2009, March for Immigrant Rights, starting at 4PM at SeaGate Centre, 401 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, with a 5PM rally at the Lucas County Courthouse, 700 Adams St. Contact info: Wendy Avina at 419-243-3456 ext. 8 or FLOCconvention@floc.com. Después de la 11va Convención Constitucional del Comite de Trabajadores de Campo (FLOC), el 3 de octubre del 2009, Marcha por Los Derechos Inmigrantes, empieza a 4PM, El Centro de Convenciones SeaGate. Par más información, Wenda Avina, 419-243-3456 ext 8.

Miss you and Love You Always—Homies Forever, Charlie Mora and family

Sept. 15, 2009: John Roy Castillo, Marylou Olivarez Mason, Cónsul Vicente Sánchez, and Robert Torres of Canton at the Mexican Consulate’s celebration of Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16). Photo by Carla Soto.

Sept. 8, 2009, in Toledo. Raymond Jemerson is a popular salsa dance instructor.

The Puerto Rican Culture Committee (PRCC) recently presented awards to several organizations working in the Latino community. The money awards come from funds that the PRCC raised with its activities and fundraisers. Awards were present to:

Members of Executive Committee presented Antonio Barrios a plaque for the dedication and hard work on behalf of the PRCC. Pictured, L-R, are María Román, Antonio Barrios, and Elizabeth Soto. Photos courtesy of Antonio Barrios. Additional award presentations at www.laprensa1.com

For the dedication and many sacrifices that Freddy’s Gym has made on behalf of kids in the City of Lorain and the responsibility the gym has taught the at-risk children, the PRCC awarded $1500 to Freddy’s. Pictured, L-R: Tim Carrion (member organizing committee PRCC Boxing Match), George Mills (assistant trainer Freddy’s Gym), Freddy Barreiro (owner/trainer Freddy’s Gym), Antonio Barrios (Chair PRCC), and Dennis Flores (Chair organizing committee PRCC Boxing Match).

The Castilleja/García Reunion was held at Northwood Park on September 6, 2009. The Clan began with the March 28, 1949 union between Tejanos Marcelino Castilleja and Rutila García, who now reside in Genoa, Ohio.

Pictured Right: Ben Konop, candidate for Toledo Mayor, welcomes the crowd at the annual Labor Day Parade in downtown Toledo on Sept. 7, 2009. Konop, who is a professor at the University of Toledo Law School, is one of numerous candidates on the Sept. 15 primary ballot.

Happy 4th Birthday
Alicia Rodríguez
and
Happy 3rd Birthday
Siena Madrid
Sept. 6

Reform Immigration for America Coalition hosted a rally on August 31, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. In the photo are: Taleb Salhab, National Outreach Director for the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services; Monsignor Don Hanchon of Holy Redeemer/MOSES; and Ester López, National Civil Rights Director, United Food and Commercial Workers Union. For more info, contact Ryan Bates, Michigan Director - Reform Immigration FOR America at 248.787.6767 or dasbates@gmail.com

Happy 40^th Anniversary Adan and Eva García,
August 9, 1969,
with love from your family.

Happy 50th Birthday

LUIS GONZALEZ

Happy Birthday!

Adelante, Inc.'s Executive Director Sonia Troche with Adelante Board Members at "Adelante Goes 'Pack' to School," on August 6, 2009.

Adelante will distribute backpacks and sochool supplies to young students on Friday, August 14, 2009, 6:00PM, at Mayores Senior Center, Toledo. For further info, call 419-244-8440.

Rubén Torres and Councilman Joe Santiago at last year’s Ohio Latino Leadership Awards. This year’s awards gala will be September 4, 2009 at the Renaissance Hotel in Columbus, Ohio.

August 7

Frank Colón and Daisy Rivera, founders of Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, at its annual parade last weekend in Cleveland.
Photo courtesy of Richard Romero.

Director Joe Balderas with students Robert Zepeda (UT), Tomás Moctezuma (Waite HS), and Doug Prather (Owens), at the garden area of the Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center.

In attendance at the 2008 Latino Scholarship Day with the Toledo Mud Hens are: Yvonne Ramos, Sonia Troche and daughters, Robert Torres, and La Prensa’s Rubén Torres. This year’s event is July 26, starting at 5PM.  

Members of the Spanish American Organization and La Prensa met July 11, 2009 at Mi Hacienda Restaurant to sell $12 tickets to Latino Scholarship Day with the Toledo Mud Hens—$3 of each ticket sold will be applied for scholarships to deserving students. Call 419-870-6565 or 290-3082 for tickets.

Northside Customs 4th of July car show

Northside Customs 4th of July car show

Love, Rikki & Serenity

June 18

¡Felicidades Armando Vargas de parte de tu familia!

Congratulations on your Graduation of June 4, 2009 and joining the armed forces. We are proud of you and you are an inspiration to us. We love you and best wishes on your new ventures— Love, your family and friends and your abuelitos Gasper and Antonia Herrera.

Padres!

June 4, 2009: Baldemar Velásquez, President of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee summarizes why Immigration Reform is needed NOW! Velásquez was part of a panel consisting of Eugenio Mollo (ABLE) and Karen Krause (Jobs with Justice).

On June 3, 2009, the Citizens with Steel Committee hosted a fundraiser for Steven Steel, president of the Toledo Board of Education and candidate for Toledo City Council At Large, at 20 North Gallery, 18 N. St. Clair St., Toledo. President Steel is shown with his wife Catherine Hernández and daughter Ruthie Steel Hernández.

June 2

NEXT WEEK IN LA PRENSA:
Michael Stolarczyk (President and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority) addresses the Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at Zia’s.

May 2009: Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce member John A. Escobar, of Maumee, Ohio, completed a five-day educational program at Modern Woodmen’s home office in Rock Island, Illinois. The program focused on helping families with Modern Woodmen life insurance plans, annuities, and fraternal member benefits.

UT’s LSU elects new officers
The names of the new Latino Student Union E-board for 2009-10 school year at the University of Toledo: President- Antonio Aguilar, Vice-President- Stephanie Norman, Treasurer- Arturo Ordoñez, and Secretary- Anastasia Unger. In the photo is Antonio Aguilar.

Watch Carla Soto on Escandalo T.V.
en Telefutura on Friday, May 15, 2009
from 2:00-4:00 pm.

Photo by Zavala Photography

Vincent Foust is congratulated by José Luna of TPS and Joe Balderas of the Quintero Center for art on display at the South Library. Foust is a senior at Bowsher High School.

Waite High School teacher Josh Flores congratulates Waite’s Cinco de Mayo King and Queen—King Miguel Martínez II and Queen Brenda Urias were recognized at Waite HS’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebrations on May 8, 2009. Dinner was also held at the school’s cafeteria, with entertainment by Imagenes Mexicans.

Omar Hernández and his mother, Serafina Hernandez, greet Television host Don Francisco of Sábado Gigante on May 9, 2009 at Armando’s Restaurant in Detroit. Sábado Gigante is not only the longest-running television variety show on Spanishlanguage TV, but in the world, celebrating 47 years.

Don Francisco of Sábado Gigante interviews Omar Hernández and his mother last Saturday at Armando’s Restaurant in Detroit.

La Prensa’s Rubén Torres con familia. Rubén and family enjoys a day celebrating Cinco de Mayo at
The Toledo Zoo on May 3, 2009.

Connie Treviño Eason with Isabel Allende at Authors! Authors! on April 16, 2009

U.S. Congresswomen Betty Sutton and Marcy Kaptur honored by the Lorain County Democratic Party on April 17, 2009 for their dedication to the voters of their respective districts. Photo courtesy of Richard Romero.

(Ralph Tapia), Bob Barboza, and family!

(Click to enlarge)
East Toledo Wrestling Club has another awe-inspiring finish
The East Toledo Wrestling Club, based in Toledo, qualified 24 wrestlers for the Ohio State Championships, held March 21-22, 2009, in Marion, Ohio. Twenty-one ETWC grapplers participated and were rewarded with a solid, runner-up finish, according to Assistant Coach Hector Ramírez—Team Miron won the overall competition with 511 points and the ETWC earned 319.5 points. Above is a recent photo of the East Toledo Wrestling Club.

The Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center program from last weekend’s 5^th Annual La Fiesta Latina included “Voces de la Calle.”

Serenity Pello eating her
1st Birthday/Easter Cake
April 4, 2009

Feliz Cumpleaños a Quinceañera Kathleen
Kathleen Mae Vargas celebrated her Quince Años birthday with friends and family April 4, 2009, with a Mass of Thanksgiving at Blessed Sacrament church and reception at Knights of Columbus hall. Katie was born March 2, 1994, 3:24 pm, at the Toledo Hospital with the help of Dr. Terry Gibbs. She is the daughter of Vincent and Joan Vargas and is the oldest of 3 children. She attends Whitmer High School and dances for El Corazón de México Ballet Folklorico. Katie is an exceptional person who offers valuable friendship to many.
Happy Birthday and may all of your dreams come true,
 Love, Mom and Dad

U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH- 9), et al., cutting ribbon on March 20, 2009, at the opening of Toledo’s downtown United States Census Office, 600 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 225. For more information call Dwight L. Stewart 419-324-7633.

Birthday ¡Feliz Cumpleaños!
Serenity Pello
(April 4, 2009)

Happy 15th Birthday ¡Feliz Cumpleaños!
Conchita Martínez (April 2, 2009)

Happy Anniversary Ino and Rutila Castilleja (March 28)!

Victor Ramírez celebrates his
78th birthday (March 23, ‘09)
with his family
@ El Nuevo Vallarta Restaurant, Toledo.

March 18, 2009:
At the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute Conference in Chicago, over 15 directors from various commissions on Latino Affairs in the United States came together to discuss Latino issues. To the left are Hank Lacayo and Conference Director, Dr. Juan Andrade.

Photos courtesy of OCHLA Commissioner Richard Romero.
 

Toledo, March 2, 2009: Hernán Vásquez and Gary Johnson, representing the Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, receive a check for $5,000 from Linda Ewing, VP, Community Affairs - Fifth Third Bank, as part of the bank’s communiity outreach.

Perrysburg: The Way Public Library Foundation presented: “Dancing AWAY with the Stars II,” as part of its fundraising activities, last Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, at the Way Public Library. The foundation also raised funds through a silent auction.
In the photo are: dancers Juan Artiaga and Lori Clark.

Columbus, Feb. 20, 2009: Governor Ted Strickland met with the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs (Ohio Latino Affairs) to go over goals that the Commission is setting for the upcoming year. The three areas of concentration will be: Education, Development, and Diversity. The Commission held their monthly meeting at the Vern Riffe Building; on Feb. 21, the Commission held their annual retreat. Pictured, left to right, are: OLA’s Lilleana Cavanaugh, Commissioner Lupe Williams, Commissioner Anthony Simms-Howell, Commissioner Andrés González, Commissioner Mary Santiago, Gov. Strickland, Commissioner Michael Florez, OLA’s Tina Staigers, FLOC’s Baldemar Velásquez, OLA Executive Director Ezra C. Escudero, and Commission Chair Richard Romero.

Parents: Nikki Rios & Joel Ocampo

Congratulations on the birth of Jissenia!
(Pictured to the left)

Some members of the Class of 1988, DeVilbiss High School, Toledo, Feb. 21, 2009

 

To Friends of the Mexican Mutual Society: Arianna Flores Santiago of Lorain, Anahsty Ballard of Toledo, Jasmin Jacinto Candelario of Lorain, and Aviana Ruiz of Lorain are running for Queen and Court, sponsored by the Mexican Mutual Society in Lorain. Support these young ladies by purchasing a ticket from them. Gracias.
Preguntas? Llame 440-277-0078.

Happy Mardi Gras
and
Fat Tuesday!!

Above Logan Retholtz proudly shows off his
Mardi Gras beads.

Ret. Master Sergeant Eligio Ramírez y esposa Nely (Reyes) Ramírez de Enon, Ohio, celebrarán sus bodas de oro el día de febrero del 2009. Se verificará una misa de acción de gracias en su honor y renovarán sus votos matrimoniales en la Iglesia de Buen Pastor, también tendrá lugar una recepción que les ofrecen sus hijos Tony (Gloria), Veronica (Dave) y Tito en Perrysburg. Por tal motivo la familia les desea todo un sin fin de felicidades y toda clase de parabienes.

Thelma Briseño and Joe Balderas at The Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center’s successful fundraiser (The 3rd Annual Entre Amigos Celebrity Wait Dinner), held at Mi Hacienda Restaurant on Feb. 23, 2009, where almost 300 supporters attended and contributed to the Center. Felicidades, José!

Lorain Mayor Tony Krasienko supporting Joel Arrendondo “for City Council President.” The mayor is shown with: Andy Durwal, President Joel Arrendondo, Martin  Liebas, & Pablo Senquez, at a fundraiser at Mexican Mutual Society on Feb. 15, 2009.

Feb. 14, 2009: Arianna Flores Santiago, Anahsty Ballard, Jasmin Jacinto Candelario, and Aviana Ruiz are candidates for Queen/Court of the Cinco de Mayo Celebration, May 2, sponsored by the Mexican Mutual Society of Lorain.

 

February 12

Love, Mom, Dad, and Family

Club Taino hosted a very successful Three Kings Day Baile in Toledo on January 10, 2009. Photo courtesy of Chico. From left to right: Lourdes Santiago, Martha Delgado, Cecilia Mendez, Linda McCall, Carmen Moctezuma, Carmen Vega, Maria Gonzalez, Gladys Flores, Damaris Gonzalez, and Maria Teresa Carr

On January 18, 2009, new officers to Latins United/Latinos Unidos were installed. Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Charles J. Doneghy performed the ceremony.

LtoR, top row - Zarro Lizcano, Sargeant at Arms, Chevo Torres, Trustee, John Aguirre, President, Rich Atwater, Vice President, Fred Garcia, Trustee, Judge Charles Doneghy, Joe Carmona, Bar Chairperson

LtoR, ladies sitting down - Mary Stamper, Membership, Jackie Urias, Corresponding Secretary, Dora Parker, Recording Secretary, Mary Lou Santellana, Hall Chairperson, Monica Wachowiak, Trustee, Lupe Guzman, Treasurer
gracias, JU

Guests enjoy a free, guided tour of The Cleveland Museum of Art's Armor Court. One of CMA’s oldest galleries, the Armor Court, has been a thrill for visitors since 1916, when the Museum first opened. Impressive armor, weaponry, and vibrant tapestries are examples of the decorative and functional art of European courts. For info, call 216-421-7340. Photo Courtesy: The Cleveland Museum of Art.

For 2009, get ready for the 7^th Annual Latino Scholarship Day with the Toledo Mud Hens, scheduled for July 26, 2009. In the photo above, Sonia Troche is throwing the first pitch in the 2008 game, sponsored by the Spanish American Organization and La Prensa.

Upcoming Postal Service commemorative stamp offerings include:
Twelve Civil Rights Pioneers, who are commemorated for their courage, commitment, and achievements: Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954), Mary White Ovington (1865-1951), J. R. Clifford (1848-1933), Joel Elias Spingarn (1875-1939), Oswald Garrison Villard (1872-1949), Daisy Gatson Bates (1914-1999), Charles Hamilton Houston (1895-1950),  Walter White (1893-1955), Medgar Evers (1925-1963), Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977), Ella Baker (1903-1986), and Ruby Hurley (1909-1980).
 

Julian & Nick

You are invited to a Three Kings Celebration Toy Drive; Friday, January 9th. 2009, starting at 8:00PM; Where: Club San Lorenzo, 3120 W.33rd. St., Cleveland; Cost: Free with an unwrapped gift or a $5.00 donation, with music, dancing, fun. Sponsored by: The Cleveland Latino Initiative.