Chamber plans Spring Fiesta for its banquet

Business, citizen of year will be named on Saturday

This year, the theme of the annual spring banquet hosted by the Dolores Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center is Spring Fiesta.

A Mexican meal will be catered by the Ponderosa Restaurant.

Festivities begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Dolores Community Center. Cost is $30 per person.

There will be a silent auction to raise money for two scholarships ($500 and $1,000) to Dolores high school seniors on their way to college.

After dinner and entertainment, the Chamber Awards ceremony will honor the citizen and business of the year.

"We had a lot of nominations, and the business of the year is the Grand Marshal for the Escalante Days parade," said chamber board member Shawna Valdez.

There will be a cash bar and entertainment by Suzanne's School of Dance.

The performance will be presented by seven dancers in full costume and makeup, said owner Kristen Ritter.

"They are really talented, and have been competing for six years now," she said.

The group will perform a lyrical piece described as a type of "balletic jazz that tells a love story." Another hip-hop dance routine will be set to a mix tape of music from the 1990s.

Olivia Cosner, a fifth- grade student from Lewis-Arriola, will perform a solo dance act.

"It's to (AC/DC's) 'Back in Black' and brings a lot of energy to the crowd," Ritter said. "All the girls are ready to perform and really crave the stage."

Tickets can be purchased at the door or from the Chamber of Commerce.

"Our annual banquet is a tradition that goes back decades," said Valdez. "It is a good opportunity to give back to the community and support a good cause."