Tag Archives: Con Edison

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE | October 19, 2015

By Rob Bailey | bailey@siadvance.com
on October 19, 2015 at 10:52 AM

What looks like Halloween but isn’t about scaring — just caring?

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Black-eyed sugar skulls and dancing papier mâché skeletons are now so commonplace in American culture, it’s easy to forget these symbols have nothing to do with our Halloween.

Nah, El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) isn’t about scaring — it’s about caring.

“It is a joyful Mexican tradition — a time for families to gather and welcome the souls of deceased love ones who, it is believed, return to visit the living,” says Irma Bohórquez-Geisler, who is marking more than two decades as founding executive director of the free “Staten Island El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) Festival.”

Her cultural celebration has traveled the North Shore over the last two decades, from the old Cromwell Center to Snug Harbor. This year’s day-long fiesta takes place at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Benedicta School.

“On this day, Mexican families and the larger Staten Island community come together to remember departed loved ones and celebrate their lives, with flowers, art, altars, live music and dances,” Bohórquez-Geisler says.

The fun begins in the morning with the construction and decoration of two ofrendas (altars) to honor the dead. Visitors are asked to bring photos of deceased loved ones, objects that once belonged to them, as well as their favorite drink, food or flower. A second ofrenda will be constructed displaying regional traditions from the Mexican state of Morelos.

Read more …

Staten Island Advance | October 24, 2014

Rob Bailey | bailey@siadvance.com By Rob Bailey | bailey@siadvance.com
on October 24, 2014 at 9:24 AM, updated October 24, 2014 at 1:04
PM

9 great things to do on Staten Island this weekend

AWE El Dia De Los Muertos
El Dia de los Muertos ofrenda on Staten Island. (Photo by Irma Bohorquez-Geisler)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The black-eyed skulls and dancing skeletons have become so commonplace in American pop culture, it’s easy to forget these symbols have nothing to do with our sugar-coma-inducing Halloween traditions.

No.  El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) isn’t about scaring — it’s about caring.

“It is a joyful Mexican tradition — a time for families to gather and welcome the souls of deceased love ones who, it is believed, return to visit the living,” says Irma Bohórquez-Geisler, the local art photographer who presents her 22nd anniversary “Day of the Dead Festival” from noon-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, 285 Clove Rd., West Brighton.

08_copyright Jon Loncle_2013_Katia Gordon_Irma Bohorquez-Geisler_Day of the Dead_all rights reserved.jpg
“Con Edison supports organizations and programs that contribute to arts and culture in a variety of ways. Day of the Dead is an educational event that not only highlights diversity, but celebrates the growing Mexican community on Staten Island,” says Katia Gordon, Con Edison’s Staten Island public affairs manager, seen here with event founder Irma Bohórquez-Geisler.

“On this day, Mexican families and the larger Staten Island community come together,” Bohórquez-Geisler says, “to remember departed loved ones and celebrate their lives, with flowers, art, altars, live music and dances.”

Read more …