Birthday Bash Scheduled

Birthday Bash Scheduled

by Marion Milbauer

ANN ARBOR- Nicaragua celebrates the seventh anniversary of its popular 1979 revolution on Saturday, July 19, and you are invited. The A2MISTAD Construction Brigade is bringing the celebration home to Ann Arbor this year. Peace activists, solidarity workers, and internationalists from around the Midwest will be gathering at the West Park band shell from between Ham and dusk to "lively-up" the day with this commemorative event.

Mike Fitzgibbon, one of the coordinators explains, "Ann Arbor is long overdue for some outdoor festivity, and with increased interest in Central American issues, we expect a large turnout for this Revolutionary Bash, so save your 'fireworks' for the nineteenth." Fitzgibbon says the purpose of the event is "...to tell people about post revolutionary Nicaragua and agriculture, and to ask for some financial support from the community for A2MISTAD."

A2MISTAD is the Ann Arbor-Managua Initiative for Soil Testing And Development (see Community Resource Directory). Its local manifestation is a group of Ann Arbor residents busy with fundraising and preparation for building a laboratory and educational facility in Managua, Nicaragua this year. "Amistad" is also the Spanish word for "friendship."

A lengthy and dynamic list of activities are planned for the day. There will be live and recorded music, theater, speakers, a slide documentary, games, literature exchange, refreshments, and a few surprises. Among the scheduled performers are the Chenille Sisters, Delta Blues guitarist Shari Kane, topical folk musician' Dave Lippman, Mike Smith & Kevin Lynch, Charlie Weaver & Jay Stielstra, and Les Kish, a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. For a listing of currently scheduled activities see the Events Calendar in this issue, or contact A2MISTAD for an update at 761-7960.