Sonoma celebrates Mexican Bicentennial

An Aztec dancer was part of the celebration of Mexico’s bicentennial on Sunday, as a festive crowd of some 2,500 enjoyed a traditional food fair, Danza Azteca Xantotl, Ballet Folklórico Quetzalén, the traditional Grito de Dolores and Los Ritmicos. Mayor Steve Barbose welcomed the crowd, supported by councilman Ken Brown remarking on the significance of the 175th anniversary of the founding of the pueblo of Sonoma. The Civic Ceremony was conducted by Gabriel Sanchez Navarro, who welcomed the recent winners of the Amistad (Friendship) Awards: Alejandra Cervantes, Loretta Carr and Ligia Booker. Fr. Adam Kotas of St. Francis Solano gave a blessing and invocation, and event producer Diego Garcia sang the American National Anthem. Gerardo Chong of the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco delivered a rousing speech saluting the heroes of Mexican Independence. “Look at this,” observed one reveler in Spanish, “we’re all one family in the same community.”