Coconino County closes out 2019 Hispanic Heritage Month with Salsa competition, other events

By Coconino County

Congratulations to HR’s Melissa John and Feliz Weems of the County Manager’s Office for taking down the top prizes at this year’s County salsa tasting competition. This event closed out a month of many great activities to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Salsa contest was held Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

“It was fun and all entries should be on a shelf at the supermarket,” said C.H.A.C. Chair Ruth Eaton.

Johns won the award for best mild salsa and was also the overall winner. Weems took first prize in the “spicy” category.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s contest!

Thank you all who attended the Salsa contest and especially to our contestants who brought us the delicious salsa. They were all so good,  I couldn’t stop eating. J  I would also like to say a special “Thank You” to CHAC and its’  members, Ruth Eaton, Delia Munoz, and Michael Cruz for judging and assisting with the Our Lady of Guadalupe tour.

 

And the Salsa Contest results are….

 

Hot Category:

1^st Place – Feliz Weems, County Manager’s office

2^nd Place – Juanita Hernandez, County Manager’s office

3^rd Place – Chad Philpot (Erika’s Philpot’s son) – Human Resources

4^th Place – Jimmy Jayne – County Manager’s office

 

Mild Category:

1^st Place – Melissa John, Human Resources

2^nd Place – Theresa Munoz, Board of Supervisors

3^rd Place – Matt Rudig, Public Affairs

 

Overall Winner:

Melissa John, Human Resources

Congratulations! Way to go everyone!!

Those attending also had an opportunity learn about about the history of the church from Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces President and local Historian Delia Munoz.

Coconino Celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of noon time programs held at its Human Resources Department including sessions on Latinos in the Southwest, a Día de los Muertos altar presentation, a Halloween vs. Día de los Muertos session and a display of Hispanic culture at its administration building.

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month, which honors and celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of individuals whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, Central America and South America.

In 1968, the United States Congress passed a resolution to celebrate Hispanic heritage at the national level and in 1988, the President of the United States formalized an annual month of Hispanic heritage recognition from September 15 to October 15 of each year.