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Health & Fitness

Cafe a las Siete ~ Coffee at Seven A Grand Success @ GPL!

Elmford, NY- The 4th annual Café a las Siete series brought applause, cheers, and smiles to Tuesday nights this July at the Greenburgh Public Library!  Tuesday night’s brought loud, enthusiastic and often boisterous crowds to the Library to enjoy the month long offerings.  Over 620 people attended the series, enjoying Latin music and dance and talks on travel and literature.  Café a Las Siete is a series of events highlighting Latino Culture; designed and developed by Librarian Diana Lennon in 2009 and been sponsored by the ArtsWestchester and NYSCA for each of the four years the series has been in existence.  Ms. Lennon summed up the series “I cannot thank ArtsWestchester enough for helping the Greenburgh Public Library to present quality programs which highlight Latino culture and our talented local artists.”   The funding received from Arts Westchester during these tough economic times makes these unique, informative, and entertaining events available for free to all Community members.

The Navarro Family and friends wowed the crowds with their Mariachi sounds on July 2.   Ms. Lennon took on the dual role of Event Coordinator and Presenter on July 9.  She told stories and presented concise facts with her intriguing and remarkable photographs of Antiqua Guatemala.  Her presentation included stories intertwined with literary quotes from Guatemalan authors.  Carlos Donan of Latin Dance Extreme got people on their feet to learn new Latin Dance steps on July 15.    Mr. Donan worked the crowd with ease and got many beginners on their feet.  The room was full of energy and a Latin beat!   Carmen Carassco, a renowned Latin American music television and recording star with a career spanning more than twenty years, entertained a crowd of over 165 people on July 23.  Guitarists and recording stars themselves, Sergio and Pedro Baez provided accompaniment for Ms. Carassco.   Audience members left the evening thrilled; having enjoyed the extraordinary sounds of Argentina and Spain.  Closing out the series on July 30, was a concert by Ameriniti, a group of local musician from Chile and Ecuador.  From their first song until their last, the group had audience members clapping to their distinctive rhythms and harmonious vocals!

Three members of the Westchester Photographic Society volunteered their services to make sure each event was documented in a professional and artistic manner.   Library patrons have been able to enjoy viewing their photographs and remember their enjoyable moments on Facebook.  Area restaurants have been generous with their food donations for refreshments, adding to participants’ full and satisfying library experiences. 

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Library staff members are enthusiastic in their support of the Café series and how it helps highlight local Latino culture.  It is an opportunity for community members to educate themselves on other cultures and learn from other residents.  We hope that more community organizations will help us carry on this fascinating series.  ArtsWestchester, NYSCA, and the Friends of the Greenburgh Library have been the driving forces behind the idea, providing the funding and stalwart support that has enabled it to become a tradition.  Its uniqueness helps the Greenburgh community and the Greenburgh Public Library stand at the forefront of building bridges between cultures.





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