Por Alberto Surís
This year, the 8th International Book Fair was dedicated to Zoe Valdes, who traveled from Paris, where she lives to accept the honor. Valdes, writer, poet and screenwriter, born in Havana, Cuba, is the author of countless novels which have won international awards.
The fair took place during the day of Friday 18th to Sunday, October 20th 2013. During the opening held at the amphitheater of the Esperanza Academy, Valdes received proclamations of welcome from both the state and the city, which were delivered by State Representative Marcos Devers and the Mayor of the City of Lawrence, William Lantigua.
A moment of joy, full of color, was given to the audience with the presence and actions of the popular Mirabal family troupe, Los Diablos Cojuelos. Alfred Potter, who together with Angela Echevarria acted as Masters of Ceremony, explained in great detail what the Diablos Cojuelos represent and the area of the Dominican Republic they come from as depicted by their costumes.
An exciting moment was when Vivian Garcia, board member read a letter from Lesley Lee Francis. Francis is the granddaughter of Robert Frost, who learned of the tribute to his grandfather from Mark Schorr Executive Director of the Robert Frost Foundation in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and expressed the hope for a successful ending.
During the day of Saturday 19th writers filled tables at Lawrence Senior Center with their publications. It is noteworthy that for the first time, the Lawrence School Department was represented at the Book Fair by Jose Alfonso Garcia, facilitator between parents and the School Department where he showed a wide variety of publications in use in our schools. That evening the film Guantanamera, of the famous filmmaker Tomas Gutierrez Alea was featured to the public’s delight.
The activities on Saturday 19 ended with dinner at the amphitheater of the Masonic Temple, located at 43 Jackson Street, where the local pianist Gary Sidell performed pieces from The Beatles and Sting’s repertoire, among others. There were also awards to people who have been responsible for the advancement of culture in the city, such as Chet Sidell and Rafael D. Guzman, better known as Danielito.
After dinner, the unmatched Xiomara Laugart who has over 40 albums, numerous international awards and who masterfully played Celia Cruz in the Broadway Musical, made everybody dance with her infectious beat.
