The BBF has moved to a new location in the Downtown area of Las Cruces. The former home of E. E. Chávez, Denise Chávez’s father, it is now the main office of the BBF. An ochre colored living room leads into a melon dining room which fans out into a purple kitchen alongside a turquoise bathroom. There is still work to be done as we tile the kitchen floor and the bathtub with a wave of chartreuse, watermelon and fuschia but much work has been done by Daniel Zolinsky, with his characteristic good eye for color and incredible artistic palette. All who enter the new BBF love it. It is a joy for us to work in such wonderful and peaceful surroundings in a quiet neighborhood that is still centrally located.

The house is named for E. E. “Chano” Chávez, a man of many names. Born Epifanio Chávez, he went by the name of E.E. (his professional name as a lawyer). “Chano” was his nickname as the beloved son, brother and uncle to many. Ernesto was his name in later years and to some he was even Ernie.

Born on Mesquite Street in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Mr. Chávez graduated with a B.A. in History from New Mexico State University. He went on to get a Law Degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., a thing unheard of during the Depression.

Mr. C. was a lover of literature, with a brilliant and incisive mind and a quick wit. He was an Assistant District Attorney in both Santa Fe and Las Cruces. He was also the head of the Legal Division of the Highway Department in Santa Fe. Many remember him for his generosity in helping them with free legal services.

“Daddy” was a man of wit and elegance. He lived at “Casa Ernesto” for 15 years as a neighbor and dear friend. He felt safe and happy here. He was loved and cared for by many caregivers whose love and concern will always be remembered.

This was and is a house of healing, a house full of blessings.

The BBF hopes that all visitors will feel Mr. Chávez’s presence and the energy of the many who worked here, struggled here, laughed and loved here and worked out their stories in this house and street.

In addition to its new office, the BBF now renting the well known D.C. Frietze Store in Mesilla, which will serve as its “Mesilla base.” The D.C. Frietze store will become a clearing house, multicultural resource center and store for festival merchandise. The BBF and its landlord, Roberto Frietze, hope that it will eventually evolve into the C.C.M.-- the Centro Cultural de Mesilla/ Cultural Center of Mesilla.

Once a Mexican garrison, the D.C. Frietze store is one of the oldest adobe buildings in Mesilla, New Mexico. This area was all under Mexican rule until the signing of the Gadsden Purchase. Since then it has served as a family grocery store, providing petroleum, coal, food stuffs and implements to the Town of Mesilla. Owner Roberto Frietze has many stories to tell about the history of this colorful and memorable community meeting place.

Any Mesillero and many Las Crucens recall exactly where the penny candy was placed and how the pan dulce smelled and just where the meat was kept.

BBF plans to offer the center as a rental venue to non-profits, interested artists and creative individuals and groups. It will allow the festival to offer year-long arts workshops, photo exhibits, a series of readings in Spanish and English, as well as workshops, panels and symposiums for youth and people of all ages and backgrounds.
Interested in using the space? Contact the BBF.

Volunteers of all ages are needed to work at the Frietze Store. Initial plans are to keep it open during the week from Friday to Sunday. We are working toward keeping the center open all the time as a home base for festival work.

In keeping with our wish to educated, enlighten and heal community, the BBF is offering a schedule of summer events.

To address questions about this web site, please contact The BBF.

This page was last updated 18 March, 2003 by Enchanted Graphics, and copyright 2002-2003, The Border Book Festival.

The Border Book Festival does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sex, age, or disability. If you need accommodation due to a disability to attend and participate in any of these events, please call us at 505-524-1499. For TTY communication, call us using the New Mexico Relay Network at 1-800-659-8331 and ask them to place a call to us.

http://www.zianet.com/bbf.