Thursday, June 28, 2012

Movie "Mamitas", Free Haircuts & Manicures, State Rep. Edward Acevedo, Calendar of Events


          MOVIE REVIEW: Jesse Charbonier Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Mexican Film Festival of the Americas, visited Little Village Monday, June 25, 2012 to present a community screening of the movie “Mamitas”. The screening of the movie was hosted and held at the Little Village Chamber of Commerce offices, 2458 S. Millard Ave. Chamber Executive Director Nilda Esparza introduced Rodriguez and Nancy Oviedo, Intergovernmental Affairs Director of Casa Ciudad de Mexico.
Jesse Charbonier Rodriguez
          RODRIGUEZ said, “We are looking at Little Village as a satellite venue for showing a lot of movies from the Mexican Film Festival.”  
            INVITED GUESTS to view the movie were representatives from LV Boys & Girls Club, Casa Ciudad de Mexico, Universidad Popular, Little Village Community Council, Farragut Career Academy, Chicago Youth Boxing Club, Lizart Pictures and Museum of Mexican Culture and History.
            “MAMITAS” has been receiving a lot of positive acclaims and reviews. The movie was shot in Echo Park against the Los Angeles downtown skyline, with a realistic storyline, high school aged young people confronted with difficult choices. The film offers moments of sadness, grief, humor, happiness and teenage romance. There is some violence and a hint of sex but it’s not overwhelming. There are many messages in the movie which audiences, young and old, will be able to relate to. One memorable scene was when the college professor says, “Nobody asks you what you actually want to be!”
            IN “MAMITAS” is actor E. J. Bonilla, Veronica Dias-Carranza, Jennifer Esposito, Jesse Garcia, Joaquin de Almeida and Pedro Armendariz Jr. The actors and actresses gave an exceptional performance.
            E. J. BONILLA is nominated for Best Actor in the 27th Annual Imagen Awards 2012 and the movie Best Narrative Feature Film Nominee: 2011 New York Latino International Film Festival. “Mamitas” plans to screen in a few more theaters. It was written and directed by Nicholas Ozeki.  
Pedro Armedariz Jr.
          PEDRO ARMENDARIZ JR. plays the grandfather in “Mamitas”. It was Armendariz’s last movie. He passed away on Dec. 26, 2011 from lung cancer at the age of 71 in New York City’s Memorial Hospital and is buried in Panteon Jardin, Mexico City, Mexico. He was the son of actors Carmela [nee Pardo] and Pedro Armendariz.    
Nilda Esparza & Lisa Illies, Treasurer,
Farragut Career Academy
            AFTER the viewing of “Mamitas,” Jesse Rodriguez asked the audience to critique the movie. Everyone gave their opinions and agreed the film should be viewed by high school students. Rodriguez  offered to bring one of the young actors to Little Village at the next screening; either E. J. Bonilla who plays Jordin or Veronica Dias-Carranza who plays Felipa, both portray students in the film.The movie was in English and is available with subtitles in Spanish on DVD at Netflix, Blockbuster and Amazon. “Mamitas” trailer can be seen on YouTube. Check it out. It is an interesting movie.
            THE MEXICAN Film Festival office is located at 314 W. Institute Place, Chicago 60610. Telephone: 312/867-0631. Jesse Charbonier Rodriguez e-mail is jesse@mexicanfilmfestival.org or website MexicanFilmFestival.org. 
State Rep. Lisa Hernandez admires
the work on a young girl
             FREE HAIRCUTS & MANICURES: The Little Village Community Council, 3610 W. 26th St. is again hosting its Free Haircuts & Manicures Day on Saturday, July 7, 2012.  Sabado, 7 de Julio. Gratis Cortes de Pelo y manicures from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students from America Career Institute in Berwyn will be the beauticians and manicurists. The students always do a great job cutting hair and giving manicures to the residents of Little Village.
            THESE YOUNG students gain experience and earn credit hours; and the community residents save on haircuts and manicures. Throughout the year, American Career Institute has made its students available to give freely to the community.
            PATRICIA “Patty” Caraballo is the director. America’s Career Institute is located at 7000 W. Cermak Road in Berwyn. Phone number is 707/795-1500. No appointment necessary for a haircut or manicure on Sat., July 7th.  
Edward Acevedo
          YOU’RE INVITED:  Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan and Mayor Rahm Emanuel invite you to an event for State Representative Edward “Eddie” Acevedo, [2nd District] from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, 350 W. Mart Center Drive, 15th Floor, Wolf Point Ballroom. Individual ticket, $250.
            REP. ACEVEDO is the Assistant Majority Leader in the House of Representatives in Springfield [the first Latino to be appointed to this position] and has served the residents of the 2nd District since 1997. He is a second generation Mexican-American, born and raised in the 2nd Representative District. Rep. Acevedo earned his Associates degree in General Studies from City Wide College and is a City of Chicago police officer. He was decorated in 1996 for heroism and valor by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for rescuing victims trapped in a fire.  
            ACEVEDO proudest legislative accomplishments include passage of the Safe Neighborhood Act, a crime-prevention package; a $500 Tuition Tax Credit; the Arnold Morales Bill, a child firearm access prevention initiative; KidCare, a low-cost health insurance program for children; and the Senior Citizen’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Act.
            THE 2ND DISTRICT includes portion of the Chicago neighborhoods of Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village and McKinley Park.
            “I WILL ALWAYS support legislation that defends the individual rights of people and I will continue to do all that I can to open the doors of opportunity for those who are too often excluded. Working together, we can make our communities safer, our families stronger and our children more secure,” said Rep. Acevedo.  
            FOR MORE info on the Citizens for Edward Acevedo fund-raiser call Madeleine Mermall at 312/961-1027 or maddiemermall@gmail.com
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                                       CALENDAR OF EVENTS
          Sat., June 30--First Time Home Buyers Workshop at Citi Bank, 6222 S. Kedzie Ave., 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hosted by H.O.P.E. call 773/522-2552.
          Sat., July 7th--Free Haircuts & Manicures. Sabado, 7 de Julio. Gratis Cortes de Pelo y manicures from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. LV Community Council, 3610 W. 26th St. 
          Sat., July 14th-- Garage Sale "La Garra de La Villita", 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 26th St. & Central Park Ave. to 25th St. & Central Park Ave. Open to the public. More info call 312/286-3405. 
          Sunday, July 21--Summer Night of Soccer, 7:30 p.m. Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL. Chicago Fire vs. Aston Villa. Tickets are available for $10 each. Call 708/594-2113. 
          Thursday, July 19th--2nd Annual Birthday Golf Outing for State Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez [24th District]. Gleneagles Golf Course, 13017 McCarthy Road, Lemont, IL. For more info call Lilly Kinney at 708/417-5680.
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