"El Paso Blue", the new English/Chicano language play currently performing at GALA Theatre conforms to standard; well produced, strongly acted and brilliantly directed; the set design powerful and the lighting unique.
    It's no accident that GALA Theatre has just received 6 Helen Hayes awards including best play of the season for Garcia Lorca's "Yerma". Rarely has Gala Theatre even received notice from the Hayes committee much less 6 awards topped by a play of the year in Spanish. Thus the Washington theatre establishment recognizes one of our long standing cultural jewels - El Teatro GALA.

DC Metro Hispanic Contractors Assoc. together with Chata Bernal of Better Business Consulting and the Flory Center of Prince William's County celebrated a remarkable construction workshop (first of its kind for the Hispanic community in that area) on Thursday, July 21 at the VFW Post in Manassas.

The Construction Alliance, a coalition of four organizations; Anacostia Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), DC Metro Hispanic Contractors Association (DCMHCA), the Building Trades Union (CHOICE) and the National Association of Minority Contractors-DC Metro Chapter (NAMCDC), is shocked to learn that without public discussion, hearings or apparent authority to do so, staffers at the Dept. of General Services (DGS) diluted the value of preference points allocated to District Certified Business Enterprises (CBE's) that qualify under DC law 16-33 code 2-218.01, the Small Local & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Development & Assistance Act of 2005. The staff decisions at DGS go against everything we have fought for and rely on as a small business community; transparency, accountability and the rule of law. We applaud the efforts of the administration of Mayor Muriel Bowser to undo these decisions that impact the hard fought ground that local, small and disadvantaged businesses have gained throughout the years.