The end of August brings celebrations of Dominican history and heritage. The sixth annual Dominican Restoration Celebration was hosted by Council Member Antonio Reynoso with The Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in NYC, Southside United HDFC-Los Sures, Nuestros Niños Daycare Center, and St. Nicks Alliance! The event honors local Dominican leaders for their contributions to the success of the community. Asenhat Gomez (Deputy Director, El Puente), Edwin A. Morales (Law Enforcement), and Sonia Medrano (New York Communities for Change Leader) were acknowledged at this year’s event.
The celebration began with a rainbow, after a seasonal downpour. The rest of the evening was rain-free. As usual, Nuestros Niños dancers enchanted the crowd and smartly incorporated umbrellas in case the weather didn’t hold.
The following Sunday the 19th annual Brooklyn Dominican Parade and Festival marched down Graham Avenue from Metropolitan to Broadway. Assembly Members Maritza Davila and Joseph Lentol and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, District Leader Tommy Torres, Boricua College, Centro Cultural Ballet Quisqueya, the United Panamanian Marching Band Carnival were among those who participated. Carnival characters Diablo cojuelo, Pepines, Los Lechones, and others cracked their whips at the end of the parade.
The Greenline 