STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Herbert Romero had been looking forward to staging a Cinco de Mayo celebration this year.
But the coronavirus pandemic squelched that.
But Romero couldn’t not do something.
So, adapting to the current ways of doing things, he has organized a Cinco de Mayo Grab & Go, or Taco Tuesday Special, on Tuesday, May 5.
Romero and representatives of other organizations, such as the I Have a Dream-Idaho Foundation, Idaho Basecamp and Crisis Hotline, will set up outside three eateries in Bellevue, Ketchum and Hailey on Tuesday.
They’ll provide census, voting, mental health, COVID-19 and other information as people order take-away meals from the three restaurants. There also will be a celebratory atmosphere, specials and giveaways.
They’ll be at Chapalitas Market in Bellevue from noon to 2 p.m.; Burger Grill in Ketchum, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Lago Azul Restaurant in Hailey from 6 to 8 p.m.
“It was sad not to be able to have a big celebration because we have been building momentum with the community as we share our Hispanic heritage and culture and bring other cultures together,” said Romero. “But you have to be innovative at this time.”
Romero’s tactic provides a way of gathering people together in community and supporting local businesses, while still observing social distancing, noted Andrea Lieberman.
“It’s a beautiful example of how this community and individuals within it can work together to keep some degree of both normalcy and holiday celebration going in this pandemic AND use it as a mean of supporting those who need a bit more help,” she added.
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.