[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E877-E878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  4TH ANNUAL ELIZABETH WATERFRONT FESTIVAL, A PROUD HISPANIC TRADITION

                                 ______


                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 1996

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a much 
anticipated rite of spring for the residents of my district, the annual 
Elizabeth Waterfront Festival. This 3-day cultural celebration will 
take place May 25 to 27, 1996, along the newly renovated Veterans 
Memorial Waterfront Park in the city of Elizabeth.
  This weekend's festivities acknowledge the tremendous contributions 
of the Hispanic community to the fabric of the lives of the people of 
Elizabeth. The Elizabeth Waterfront Festival is a showcase for the rich 
cultural traditions that Hispanics have brought to the city and the 
Nation. There will be exhibitions including art work, music, and dance 
to represent the cultural mosaic of Elizabeth. The festival will also 
include a wide range of Hispanic foods.
  While the Elizabeth Waterfront Festival celebrates the diversity that 
exists within the Hispanic community, it also recognizes the role 
business can play in helping a proud people achieve their true 
potential. The success of the festival itself is a testament to the 
impact public-private partnerships can have on a community. In 
cooperation with the city of Elizabeth, sponsors of the festival 
include such nationally known companies as Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, 
Bustelo Coffee, Chivas Regal, and Pepsi Cola. Local sponsors of the 
festival include the Elizabeth Center at 13A, Twin City Supermarkets, 
radio stations Mega 97.9 FM and Suave 93.1 FM, Telemundo 47, TKR Cable 
of Elizabeth, and Noticias del Mundo. This important event is being 
produced by Melly Mell Productions.
  The Elizabeth Waterfront Festival is not only an observance of the 
cultural and economic role played by the Hispanic community in 
Elizabeth, but also a showcase for all the city has to offer. As a 
member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water 
Resources, I am gratified to know the festival will take place on the 
waterfront, an underutilized resource. The city of Elizabeth's 
strategic location on New Jersey's coastline makes it a preferred 
destination for ships carrying goods from all over the world.

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  It is an honor to have such an exceptional event as the Elizabeth 
Waterfront Festival take place in my district. I take pride in the fact 
the Elizabeth Waterfront Festival brings together all segments of our 
community and at the same time reflects positively on the city of 
Elizabeth and New Jersey. I am certain my colleagues will rise with me 
and recognize this remarkable celebration of life.

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