[StBernard] Los Islenos Fiesta to be March 20-21 at the newly renovated Museum Complex

[Westley Annis]

Los Islenos Fiesta to be March 20-21 at the newly renovated Museum Complex

Grand opening ceremony to be held on March 20 

 

Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society will celebrate its 34th annual
Isleno Fiesta Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21 on the grounds of Los
Islenos Museum Complex, 1345-1357 Bayou Road in St. Bernard Village. 

 

This occasion also will mark the rededication of Los Islenos Museum Complex
following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.  The complex
includes roughly thirty acres of land and nine historic structures, seven
which were moved to the site or with construction with funds raised by Los
Islenos Society working concurrently with St. Bernard Parish Government.

 

St. Bernard Parish Craig P. Taffaro and the Parish Council will rededicate
the Los Islenos Museum Complex on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in conjunction with
the Fiesta.

 

The fiesta will officially open March 20 at noon. Fiesta entertainment will
include Fredy Omar, The Top Cats, and August Rush. Additionally, Los
Cabuqueros and Princesa Dacil, a folkloric musical group of 40 musicians,
vocalists and dancers will perform both days. These groups are based in
Arucas and Cueva Blanca in Gran Canaria Island. They performed during Fiesta
2005 and actively supported efforts to rebuild the museum complex after
Hurricane Katrina.

 

Saturday's rededication event will celebrate the more than $2.5 million in
restoration and reconstruction work on the grounds of Los Islenos Museum
Complex, 1345 - 1357 Bayou Road in St. Bernard Village. President Taffaro
and Recovery Director Mike Dorris, Jr., have spearheaded the FEMA-funded
work to repair Katrina's damage.

 

The complex has two main museums in the front, the Isleno Museum and the
Ducros Museum.

 

The museum complex began with the donation of the Louis Alfred Ducros, M. D.
home in St. Bernard Village by his daughter, the late Rosa Mathilde Ducros
Tennant in 1971. Dr. Ducros was the first native St. Bernardian to graduate
from Tulane University Medical School in 1896. He was the sole resident
medical doctor in eastern St. Bernard from the 1890s until his death in
1945. Dr. Ducros purchased what is today Ducros Museum in 1909 and
established his office in that dwelling. His life was an object lesson in
selfless community service.

 

Los Islenos Museum was donated to the people of St. Bernard Parish by Louise
Molero O'Toole and Mabel Molero Quatroy in memory of their parents, Manuel
Molero and Camilla Sylvera Molero in 1980.

 

Manuel Molero founded Delacroix Corporation, a land holding company with
acreage in St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.  Young Manuel and his
siblings were orphaned in their childhood and were reared by their family.
Manuel grew to maturity speaking Spanish as a first language and nurtured by
his Isleno family. Molero retained throughout his life an abiding love for
his Isleno cultural heritage.

 

This devotion to the Isleno cultural identity has been transmitted by Manuel
Molero to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom
actively support the movement to preserve the heritage of St. Bernard
Parish.

 

The third, annual St. Bernard Parish President and First Lady Easter Egg
Hunt for children ages 0 to 9 will be at the fiesta on Sunday, March 21 from
1 to 3 p.m. Bring your camera to take pictures of your children with the
Easter Bunny.

 

Some parking is available on the site, and a shuttle bus will be available
to bring visitors from a nearby parking lot set up for the Fiesta. 

 

For additional information, please call Isleno Society President Dot Benge
(504-554-8412), Fiesta Co-Chairman Rhonda Hannan (504-615-9322), Ryan Fink,
publicity coordinator, Los Islenos Society (rfink at sbpg.net, 504-650-1010) or
Karen Turni Bazile, St. Bernard Parish Government at kbazile at sbpg,net or
504-278-4280.

 

###

 

ISLENO FIESTA SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

 

Saturday, March 20

Noon:              Opening Ceremony. Islenita, Junior and Senior Heritage
Programs

1-3 p.m.:         Canary Island Musicians 

3-6 p.m.:         Fredy Omar Con Su Banda

6-9 p.m.:         August Rush

 

Sunday, March 21

Noon-2 p.m. Julio y Cesar

1-3 p.m.: St. Bernard Parish President and First Lady Easter Egg Hunt 

2-4 p.m.: Canary Island Musicians

4-8 p.m.: The Top Cats