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August 20, 2007 16:29:28
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Music, food celebrate Puerto Rican heritage
With blowing whistles, honking horns and blasting salsa, this year's Jersey City's Puerto Rican Parade was louder and prouder than ever.
The parade kicked off from Belmont Avenue near Lincoln Park, ran along John F. Kennedy Boulevard and down Montgomery Street to the grandstand in front of City Hall.
Featuring more than 20 floats as well as police and fire vehicles, the parade is part of the 47th annual Puerto Rican Heritage Festival.
Police estimated 10,000 revelers lined the two-mile parade route, many sporting the red, white and blue of the Puerto Rican flag - if not the flag itself, which was seen draped over shoulders, car roofs and hoods and from windows and stoops.
The succession of floats drew the most cheers - and also responded in kind. Each float blasted salsa and bomba music, some with dancers and cheerleaders out front, and others with people dancing atop the decorated flatbed trucks. Vintage bicycles and cars also joined in the procession.
Grand Marshal Juan Perez, who recently won the Democratic primary for Hudson County sheriff, walked at the head of the march, followed by about 30 uniformed marching officers from the Hudson County Sheriff's Office.
If Perez wins the general election in November, festival organizers said he will be the first Hispanic in the state to be elected county sheriff.
"I am very humbled to be the grand marshal," said Perez, who was born in Puerto Rico and came to the states when he was 5 years old. "I am proud to be here and represent my community."
Perez was followed by Mayor Jeremiah Healy and other politicians, including Union City Mayor and Assemblyman Brian Stack, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner and Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos.
Detectives Paul Matos and Fermin Sanchez, who made the arrests in the murder of 47-year-old Fidelina A. Claros, who was shot to death during a robbery of her bodega in the Jersey City Heights, also were honored.
Deanna Rivera, 10, who was there with 5-year-old sister Gabriela and parents Jose and Anne Rivera, came down from Kennedy Boulevard to see the parade. "I like the music, dancing and everything," she said. "I like the food, too."
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