Cicero Celebrates Cinco de Mayo Online
Cicero, Il – Town President Larry Dominick hosted a virtual celebration of Cinco de Mayo on Wednesday providing an assortment of talent and speakers from the local schools and Town of Cicero.
The event was broadcast live on the Town’s Facebook Page and featured welcome messages from President Larry Dominick and Mrs. Diana Dominick, director of the Cicero Senior Center, and by Clerk Maria Punzo-Arias and Assessor Emilio “Emo” Cundari.
Entertainment was provided by the Morton High School District 201 and by Cicero Elementary School District 99 with welcoming remarks from High School Supt. Timothy Truesdale and District 99 Interim Supt. Aldo Calderin.
The 90-minute event also feature performances by local artists including Alexandra Salgado and Sebastian Castellanos.
“The COVID-19 Pandemic last year disrupted our annual celebration of Cinco de Mayo which every year attracts more than 25,000 attendees every day of the festival,” Dominick said.
“We didn’t want this year to go without an acknowledgement of this very important holiday celebration so we decided to host it on Facebook to give our residents an enjoyable and safe celebration. My hope is that next year we can return to an outdoor program that accommodates the tens of thousands of residents who want to enjoy and celebrate this important Mexican holiday event.”
The event was emcee’d by co-Hispanic Liaison Mau Ayala and Business License Director and Clergy Committee Chairman Ismael Vargas. Officials of the Department of Special Events including Director Patti Sturdevant and Jeffry Pesek organized the decorations for the performance area in the main lobby at Cicero Town Hall.
Health Commissioner Sue Grazzini provided an overview of the Town’s pandemic vaccination program noting that residents do not need to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated and that the town has ample vaccinations to cover all those who wish to be vaccinated.
Also participating were Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar, members of the Cicero Mexican Cultural Committee, and Co-Hispanic Liaison Blanca Vargas. The program was also co-sponsored by the Cicero Chamber of Commerce.
Facemasks and social distancing were followed, and performers were required to depart following their performances to maintain a reduced number of attendees in the Town Hall foyer. Greetings were offered on behalf of Town Officials including Supervisor Joe Virruso, Collector Fran Reitz, and Trustees Victor Garcia, Larry Banks, Bob Porod and John Cava.
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