Main Street Board Member Joe Tessier said “We‘ve looked forward to planning a Latin event for some time now and Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect opportunity to have a Downtown Friday that highlights and celebrates this rich and diverse culture.” The event will feature Robert Navarro’s St. Lucie Tropical Band’s Pop Quartet.  Navarro is a recording artist and producer who has performed with legendary musicians such as Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz, Willie Colon and Eddie Santiago just to name a few. The four piece orchestra will perform a variety of Latin dance styles including Salsa, Merengue, Cha Cha Cha, Bachata and more.  “Dust off your dancing shoes, too, as Swingstation’s 14^th Avenue Dance Studio instructors and Latin dance experts Joe and Shari Tessier will be offering a Salsa demonstration and providing complimentary dance lessons during the evening,” said MSVB Executive Director Tammy Adams. “Bring your chairs and settle in for a great night of entertainment for all ages.  Plus, there will be a chance to win cash at Main Street’s 50/50 drawing with proceeds designated for five “ARTS DISTRICT” street signs in and around Downtown.”  

In keeping with the focus on the diverse Hispanic population and culture that is an integral part of the Indian River County community, the September Featured Charity is Operation Hope founded in 1997 by Jesse Zermeño who recognized the plight of Florida’s migrant workers in the Fellsmere area.  In its initial years, Operation Hope was dedicated to making a difference in the living conditions of the many hardworking migrant laborers and their families. Over time the organization has grown as considerably as the community it serves and now maintains one of the largest food pantries in the area, runs a thrift store, operates a pre-school and offers after-school sports programs.  A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Operation Hope is dedicated to providing support, education, and assistance to families in need regardless of race, color, or religion.

Main Street Vero Beach (MSVB) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization affiliated with the Florida Main Street program, part of the State Division of Historical Resources and is a member of The National Main Street Center a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Across the nation, Main Street’s 4-point approach of Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Restructuring has transformed the way communities revitalize, promote and manage their historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.  Main Streets everywhere thrive again living on as places of shared memory where people still come together to live, work, shop and play.

Learn more about Main Street Vero Beach @  www.mainstreetverobeach.org, by visiting their Facebook page, or calling 772-643-6782.  The MSVB office is open Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm at 2036 14^th Avenue Suite 103 under the historic Florida Theatre marquee downtown.