Culture, community and chimichangas
Spanish American Festival promotes ethnic diversity
BY LORI ANNE OLIWA Correspondent
Blue skies and bay breezes were the perfect complement to the upbeat mood of the 10th annual Spanish American Festival held on Saturday, Aug. 9, along First and Broad streets.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Joshua Bonilla tries to talk his "poppie," grandfather Juan Bonilla of Keyport, into buying him a souvenir at the 10th annual Spanish American Festival of Keyport on Aug. 9.

"There must have been close to 2,000 people here today," said George Rentas, vice president of the Keyport Spanish American Club and organizer of the event.

Rentas explained that his father was one of the club's founders back in 1963.

"Now my son, George Jr., is involved. He is known as 'DJ ACE' and donated his services today," Rentas noted proudly. "We are a very tight-knit community," he added.

Rentas, who was the enthusiastic ambassador for the day's events, noted that people from several nations were in attendance.

"We have people from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The event has really grown in the last few years," he said.

Above: Joe Bark of Keyport and his parrot Taco Bell enjoy the beautiful summer weather at the festival, which drew almost 2,000 people to the Keyport waterfront. Left: Anna Henn, of Port Monmouth, makes a selection from a tempting array of Spanish-style dishes at the festival, which was sponsored by the Keyport Spanish American Club.

Attendees were able to savor a variety of ethnic foods, listen to the music of different cultures and experience the cultural diversity represented at the festival.

"The best part for me was finding something unusual and exotic for dinner," said Cedric Stafford, Keyport. Barbara Granda, a Keyport resident and a member of the borough's environmental commission, said the atmosphere was one of enthusiasm and acceptance.

"I enjoyed seeing lots of different cultures represented," she noted.

Along with the strong beat of the salsa music, the varieties of aromatic foods like chorizo (a spicy Spanish pork sausage), and the camaraderie of "hermaños," the festival had a stronger message to deliver.

"We care about the community - everyone in the community regardless of ethnic background," noted Rentas.

He told a story about a gentleman who asked if he could fly an Irish flag during the festival.

"Of course I told him he could, as long as the flag would be as large as the rest of them," Rentas said earnestly. "An event like this is about uniting the community and helping anyone who needs help."

Rentas also cited the important work of the Keyport Cultural Harmony Program, founded by Tomas and Margie Fischer. Margie has taught in Keyport for 31 years, and the program has been in existence for four years.

"Our purpose is to bring all cultures together in the community and what better way to do it than to have a festival," Tomas Fischer said. He confirmed that there are 13 different cultures represented in Keyport.

"We offer English classes free of charge to whoever needs them," he added, "in addition to intervention services, counseling and translation and advocacy services."

During the festival, the Spanish American Club presented Margie Fischer with the Community Service Award in recognition of her advocacy on behalf of the Keyport community and its diverse ethnicities.

"She is a terrific lady, a wonderful lady," Rentas noted, "and was actually one of my schoolteachers way back when."

In the next few weeks, discussions will start about next year's festival. For information on the Spanish American Club, call Rentas at 732-320-5827. Information on the Keyport Cultural Harmony Program is available on the Web site www.thekchp.org or by calling Tomas or Margie Fischer at 732-264-8038.