LAWRENCE — It's going to be a bittersweet Independence Day celebration for Dominicans after Jose Balbuena, who they were going to honor, died last week after battling cancer.
"We don't want this to be a sad posthumous moment because we were going to honor him anyway," said Dario Silverio, parade organizer. "We want to remember him as he was, happy, full of life."
Balbuena, 61, owned Nobel Book Store on Haverhill Street in the city for many years, was active in Dominican affairs, ran for School Committee, and wanted to preserve his country's history by promoting reading and literature. He hosted book readings at his store.
This is the ninth year Dominicans celebrate their culture here.
The holiday commemorates the restoration of the Dominican Republic's independence. After freeing itself from Haiti in 1844, the Caribbean country was annexed to Spain in 1861. A war from 1863 to 1865 put an end to Spanish rule, bringing the country independence again. Dominicans celebrate Aug. 16 as Restoration Day.
"Our goal is to keep our roots alive so our children know they have a rich culture," Silverio said.
At the dinner kicking off the festival, a projector continuously showed Balbuena leading the coffeehouse-style readings with poetry and music.
After dinner, Milton Amador, one of the regulars at the bookshop, spoke about his friend.
"A moment of silence would not be appropriate for a man who was always full of ideas," said Amador, who received thunderous applause and a standing ovation.
Amador, and other regulars at the shop, played the guitar and sang some of Balbuena's favorite songs.
Carmen Chalas, a radio show host, also got on stage to sing for Balbuena.
Chalas, host of Microfono Abierto (which means Open Mic in Spanish) for the past eight years, will serve as parade marshal along with Wendy Estrella, a lawyer in Lawrence, and Nelson Silvestre, a community activist and a cofounder of the Dominican parade and an executive board member of Casa Dominicana.
"To Balbuena, I say, 'See you later.' We have to keep your commitment to keep our culture and art alive by reading, even if it's not for yourself, but for our children," Silvestre said.
A parade is not complete without beauty queens. Jeidy Troncoso, 19, of Methuen was elected Miss Desfile Dominicano, 2008; Janna Cabrera, 17, of Lawrence was second runner-up; and Lisbeth Mateo, 16, of Lawrence was first runner-up.
Troncoso was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated with her family to New York at age 1. She has lived in Lawrence since age 12.
"It's a great honor for me to represent my country and my people," said Troncoso, a student at Northern Essex Community College.
Dominican parade in Lawrence events
Friday
Book fair, noon to 9 p.m., Cambridge College, 60 Island St.
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Saturday
Book fair, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Cambridge College.
Sunday
Dominican parade, steps off at 1 p.m. from the Central Catholic parking lot on Marion Avenue. Route follows Holly to Daisy to Broadway and Haverhill streets, ending at Essex and Appleton streets downtown. It will feature floats and community organizations. It will last about two hours.
