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04-02-2007, 06:17 PM
Mayor Torres Presides at Heart of Belen Dedication
For New Community Plaza and Pavillion
By Rebecca Guile Hudson - Steppin' Out's Belen Reporter
<br>
<center><img src=http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/data/612/medium/rebecca_Belen_048.jpg align=center border=1 alt="The new Pavillion at the entrance to Belen's Plaza"><br><font size=2 face="Arial Narrow">The new Pavillion at the entrance to Belen's Plaza</font></center><br>
Belen, New Mexico - March 31, 2007 - On Saturday, March 31st, 2007, at Becker and Main Street, Mayor Ronnie Torres presided over a festive parade, fund-raiser and ribbon-cutting ceremony that celebrated an event 267 years in the making – bringing a plaza and pavilion to the very Heart of Belen – thus ending phase one of the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Belen. The front of the plaza, known as Theresa Tabet Park, is graced with a beautiful nativity sculpture donated by the Tabet family, while the pavilion is elegant, open, spacious and inviting.<br><br><img src=http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/data/612/medium/rebecca_Belen_004.jpg align=right border=1 hspace=3 alt="Ceiling of the Pavillion at Belen's Plaza">Torres thanked all who came out to join the festivities, and spoke proudly of all the hard work, dedication and commitment that went into making this dream for Belen come true. He then held up a large silver star, instituting what will become an annual event -- stars representing pillars of the community will be placed on the ceiling of the pavilion. The Mayor dedicated the first stars to four remarkable, every-day good women who consistently promoted the growth, culture and history of this extraordinary old town. While the first three, Priscilla Sanchez, Betty Chavez, Theresa Tabet, are deceased, the fourth, Eva Garcia Glidewell, was present and happily participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.<br><br>In the future, dedication and placement of more stars will be an annual event.<br><br><img src=http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/data/612/medium/rebecca_Belen_070.jpg align=left border=1 hspace=3 alt="Senator Pete Domenici spoke at the dedication ceremony.">U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, who congratulated Torres on the wonderful job he and his community are doing, was present, along with other dignitaries such as State Senator Michael Sanchez, City Councilman Rudy Jaramillo, U.S. Congressman Stevan Pearce (District 2), State Representatives Andrew Barreras and Don Tripp, Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley, City Councilman Jeff Trembley and David Lopez.<br><br>Also present were Mark Wonder, representing Jeff Binghaman’s office, and Diego Pinosa, representing Heather Wilson’s office.<br><br>Torres told the rapt crowd, that included prominent townsfolk such as Boni and Eloisa Tabet, Attorney Tibo Chavez Jr., and his wife, Svetlana, and Pavlos and Nicolette Panagopoulos, that the second phase of the project will hopefully get started sometime this year, and is to include the next two blocks, from Fifth Street to Third Street. Ultimately, the project will encompass the entire area from Main Street to First Street, and down to the Harvey House Museum.<br><br><img src=http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/data/612/medium/rebecca_Belen_018.jpg align=right border=1 hspace=3 alt="After the ceremony dancers and gymnasts entertained the audience.">After the official ceremony, young dancers and gymnasts from Renée Antoinette's School of Dance, Boardwalk Gymnastics, Junior Jazzworks and S & A Dance Academy all performed to a highly appreciative audience, adults danced joyfully in the pavilion and a silent auction was held while all around were people and dogs of every size and age, many wearing colorful costumes, eyeing all the baked goodies, traditional New Mexican foods, quilts, jewelry and exquisite arts and crafts being offered for the fund-raiser.<br><br>Commissioner Bill McCamley, the Executive Director of the Rural Development Council, which provided funding 4 to 5 years ago for the initial plan, commented on how truly gratifying it was to see the first phase of this important idea come to such beautiful life and fruition.<br><br>While all monies raised by the vendors and silent auction have not yet been counted, the Mayor told me that, on average, local community events such as this one raise from $7000 - $8000, money that is then split between Renée Antoinette’s School of Dance and Belen Parks & Recreation.<br><br>Meanwhile, next door, the newly re-opened Belen Art League gallery on Becker Avenue, hosted a spectacular array of works by local artisans. Their hospitality included a wonderful spread of coffee, juices, a wide variety of homemade delicacies, and beautiful live music.<br><br>In addition to the images shown in this article, Steppin' Out has created a gallery of photos taken during the Heart of Belen Dedication. Readers can visit and view that gallery here (http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/showgallery.php/cat/612).
For New Community Plaza and Pavillion
By Rebecca Guile Hudson - Steppin' Out's Belen Reporter
<br>
<center><img src=http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/data/612/medium/rebecca_Belen_048.jpg align=center border=1 alt="The new Pavillion at the entrance to Belen's Plaza"><br><font size=2 face="Arial Narrow">The new Pavillion at the entrance to Belen's Plaza</font></center><br>
Belen, New Mexico - March 31, 2007 - On Saturday, March 31st, 2007, at Becker and Main Street, Mayor Ronnie Torres presided over a festive parade, fund-raiser and ribbon-cutting ceremony that celebrated an event 267 years in the making – bringing a plaza and pavilion to the very Heart of Belen – thus ending phase one of the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Belen. The front of the plaza, known as Theresa Tabet Park, is graced with a beautiful nativity sculpture donated by the Tabet family, while the pavilion is elegant, open, spacious and inviting.<br><br><img src=http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/data/612/medium/rebecca_Belen_004.jpg align=right border=1 hspace=3 alt="Ceiling of the Pavillion at Belen's Plaza">Torres thanked all who came out to join the festivities, and spoke proudly of all the hard work, dedication and commitment that went into making this dream for Belen come true. He then held up a large silver star, instituting what will become an annual event -- stars representing pillars of the community will be placed on the ceiling of the pavilion. The Mayor dedicated the first stars to four remarkable, every-day good women who consistently promoted the growth, culture and history of this extraordinary old town. While the first three, Priscilla Sanchez, Betty Chavez, Theresa Tabet, are deceased, the fourth, Eva Garcia Glidewell, was present and happily participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.<br><br>In the future, dedication and placement of more stars will be an annual event.<br><br><img src=http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/data/612/medium/rebecca_Belen_070.jpg align=left border=1 hspace=3 alt="Senator Pete Domenici spoke at the dedication ceremony.">U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, who congratulated Torres on the wonderful job he and his community are doing, was present, along with other dignitaries such as State Senator Michael Sanchez, City Councilman Rudy Jaramillo, U.S. Congressman Stevan Pearce (District 2), State Representatives Andrew Barreras and Don Tripp, Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley, City Councilman Jeff Trembley and David Lopez.<br><br>Also present were Mark Wonder, representing Jeff Binghaman’s office, and Diego Pinosa, representing Heather Wilson’s office.<br><br>Torres told the rapt crowd, that included prominent townsfolk such as Boni and Eloisa Tabet, Attorney Tibo Chavez Jr., and his wife, Svetlana, and Pavlos and Nicolette Panagopoulos, that the second phase of the project will hopefully get started sometime this year, and is to include the next two blocks, from Fifth Street to Third Street. Ultimately, the project will encompass the entire area from Main Street to First Street, and down to the Harvey House Museum.<br><br><img src=http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/data/612/medium/rebecca_Belen_018.jpg align=right border=1 hspace=3 alt="After the ceremony dancers and gymnasts entertained the audience.">After the official ceremony, young dancers and gymnasts from Renée Antoinette's School of Dance, Boardwalk Gymnastics, Junior Jazzworks and S & A Dance Academy all performed to a highly appreciative audience, adults danced joyfully in the pavilion and a silent auction was held while all around were people and dogs of every size and age, many wearing colorful costumes, eyeing all the baked goodies, traditional New Mexican foods, quilts, jewelry and exquisite arts and crafts being offered for the fund-raiser.<br><br>Commissioner Bill McCamley, the Executive Director of the Rural Development Council, which provided funding 4 to 5 years ago for the initial plan, commented on how truly gratifying it was to see the first phase of this important idea come to such beautiful life and fruition.<br><br>While all monies raised by the vendors and silent auction have not yet been counted, the Mayor told me that, on average, local community events such as this one raise from $7000 - $8000, money that is then split between Renée Antoinette’s School of Dance and Belen Parks & Recreation.<br><br>Meanwhile, next door, the newly re-opened Belen Art League gallery on Becker Avenue, hosted a spectacular array of works by local artisans. Their hospitality included a wonderful spread of coffee, juices, a wide variety of homemade delicacies, and beautiful live music.<br><br>In addition to the images shown in this article, Steppin' Out has created a gallery of photos taken during the Heart of Belen Dedication. Readers can visit and view that gallery here (http://sonewmex.com/pp-514/showgallery.php/cat/612).