Jillian Holbert An internationally-renowned poet takes center stage 8 p.m. today at the Eastern New Mexico University ballroom to kick off the college’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Gabriela Garcia Medina has received international acclaim and has traveled to Brazil, South Africa, Cuba, Switzerland and all over the U.S. to perform her poetry. This poet has […]
Cuba change significant, albeit slow
Freedom New Mexico Of itself, the change was not quite as significant as it seemed to be at first glance. Cuba was not legalizing private property or even moving toward anything that might be deemed an actual market in real estate. All the notice on Friday in the official gazette of the Cuban Justice Ministry […]
Castro or not, meaningful change for Cuba far off
Freedom New Mexico It is difficult to tell just how significant is the fact that Fidel Castro has formally resigned as Cuba’s president. He “temporarily” ceded his powers to his younger brother, Raul, on July 31, 2006, but he remains a member of parliament and is likely to be elected to the 31-member Council of […]
Castro resigns presidency
The Associated Press HAVANA — An ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba’s president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when parliament meets Sunday. The end of Castro’s rule — the longest in the world for a head of government — frees his 76-year-old brother Raul […]
July 25, 1961
Rhythm Shop school of dancing at 1316 Main offered dancing lessons for children. … Mrs. William Conn, mother of Miss Clovis, was a passenger on an Eastern Airline plane that was hijacked and forced to fly to Cuba. … The Clovis News Journal reported that President Kennedy’s report to the nation would air live at […]
Castro’s brother offers little hope for Cuban change
Freedom Newspapers The news that Fidel Castro was having unspecified intestinal surgery that caused him to hand over formal power to his brother Raul (who is 75) was so fraught with hope that Cuban-Americans in Miami’s Little Havana turned out for a massive street party. That even a rumor of the 79-yearold dictator’s imminent demise […]
School officials need civics seminar
By Leonard Pitts Jr.: Syndicated columnist The other day, I gave two teachers I know $300,000 apiece. Hypothetical money, that is. If $300k fell out of the sky, I said, and you could use it to improve your school, how would you spend it? Mary Ann, who works at an elementary school in Los Angeles, […]
Santamarina, Matilde
Matilde Santamarina Services: Have been held. Mrs. Matilde Labandera Santamarina, 81, of Bethlehem, Pa., died Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem. She was born on April 6, 1924, in Cuba, to Maria and Jose Labandera. She grew up in Cuba, where she attended school. She married Everardo Santamarina on July 31, […]
Experience on Pojoaque’s side
By Dave Wagner: Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — Experience will be on the side on Pojoaque in today’s Class 3A boys semifinal against Portales. The Elks are making their fourth trip to the state semifinals in five years while Portales is making its first state appearance since winning it all in 2001. Pojoaque (20-7) knocked out […]
Rams rumble over Cuba

Portales’ Bo Gabriel hits the floor for a loose ball during the second half of a Class 3A quarterfinal game against Cuba Wednesday at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque. (CNJ staff: Eric Kluth) By Dave Wagner: Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — Portales High’s boys weren’t about to let Cuba — and its boisterous fans — […]
Class 3A boys: Portales smokes Cuba
By Dave Wagner: Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — Portales High’s boys weren’t about to let Cuba — and its boisterous fans — or a broken bus stop them. The Rams held high-scoring senior Michael Kilroy 15 points under his Class 3A-leading average and took control from the get-go in a 67-46 state quarterfinal victory Wednesday at […]
Mexico issues mean Cuba losing support
Freedom Newspapers Cuban President Fidel Castro says it shows Mexico has become a lackey of the United States. Armand Peschard-Sverdrup, director of the Mexico Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, however, said the expulsion of Cuba’s ambassador to Mexico and the recall of Mexico’s ambassador to Cuba “is indicative of […]