TINY TOWN, DISTINGUISHED LEGACY HAVEN FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER CESAR CHAVEZ CELEBRATING HIS MEMORY.Byline: Stephen Wall Staff Writer The only store in Keene, Calif., closed when the owner died last week. There's a post office where the 30 or so families can pick up their mail. You won't find much else in Keene, a mountainous berg a half hour east of Bakersfield. But this weekend, thousands of newcomers were expected to overrun the town to pay homage to Cesar Chavez Noun 1. Cesar Chavez - United States labor leader who organized farm workers (born 1927) Cesar Estrada Chavez, Chavez , the late civil rights leader. The Chavez Memorial and Day Visitors Center was to have been unveiled Saturday at Nuestra Seqora Reina de la Paz La Paz, city, Bolivia La Paz (lä päs), city (1992 pop. 713,378), W Bolivia, administrative capital (since 1898) and largest city of Bolivia. The legal capital is Sucre. , the 188-acre compound where Chavez lived and is buried. It was part of a two-day festival ending today that features live music, guided tours, food and children's activities. Caravans of people were expected to flock to the place Chavez created as the home of the farm worker movement. ``For me, anything that has to do with Cesar Chavez is important,'' said Sara Garcia, chairwoman of the Mexican-American Political Association's Rialto Rialto, city (1990 pop. 72,388), San Bernardino co., S Calif., a residential suburb of San Bernardino; inc. 1911. The city has greatly expanded as a result of the economic and demographic growth of the southern California area. chapter. ``He's the only Latino leader that I felt cared about people.'' Garcia said she was planning to take a group of high school students to the dedication ceremonies. ``I wanted to make sure we had representation from our area honoring Cesar Chavez,'' said Assemblyman John Longville John Longville served in the California State Assembly from 1998 until 2004. He succeeded Joe Baca who was elected to the State Senate and he was succeeded by Baca's son, Joe Baca, Jr. , D-San Bernardino, who arranged for the students to use a van for the trip. ``He was an extraordinary leader and somebody we need to remember,'' he said. Eight members of the Cesar Chavez Tribute Committee of the Inland Empire In·land Empire A region of the northwest United States between the Cascade Range and the Rocky Mountains, comprising eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, northern Idaho, and western Montana. Farming, lumbering, and mining are important to the area. were to carpool car·pool n. also car pool 1. An arrangement whereby several participants or their children travel together in one vehicle, the participants sharing the costs and often taking turns as the driver. 2. to the event Saturday, said Jesse Valenzuela Jesse Valenzuela (born May 22, 1962) was the original vocalist of the alternative rock band Gin Blossoms when it was formed in 1987. In 1988, he switched roles with the band's new guitarist, Robin Wilson. , chairman of the group and an aide to Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino. The committee was seeking ideas for the unveiling of its own monument to Chavez, a bronze bust that would be erected in front of the new Cesar Chavez Middle School in San Bernardino when it opens in September 2005. The Chavez family and other participants in the farm worker movement developed the idea for the National Chavez Center about eight years ago. Chavez moved to the compound in 1971 and used it for his offices until his death in 1993. It still serves as the headquarters of the United Farm Workers The United Farm Workers of America (UFW) is a labor union that evolved from unions founded in 1962 by César Chávez, Philip Vera Cruz, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong. This union changed from a workers' rights organization that helped workers get unemployment insurance to that of and other entities involved in the farm worker movement. The $3 million memorial garden and visitors center is the first phase of the National Chavez Center. Future phases will include a retreat center, museum, library and cultural center. ``It will be a living tribute to his legacy,'' said Andres Irlando, president of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation. ``So much of the work he was involved in will continue there.'' Chavez chose Keene as a place where he could ``recharge his batteries and gain some perspective'' on the struggles farm workers faced against growers who were paid low wages and denied health care and basic human rights, Irlando said. The Chavez festival is expected to be the biggest event in Keene's history, postmaster postmaster - The electronic mail contact and maintenance person at a site connected to the Internet or UUCPNET. Often, but not always, the same as the admin. The Internet standard for electronic mail (RFC 822) requires each machine to have a "postmaster" address; usually it is Jerry Huntley said. She said the Postal Service will sell the Chavez commemorative stamp and other souvenirs at the event. ``It's going to be fun,'' Huntley said. ``The farm workers are an integral part of the community.'' |
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