A candlelight vigil will be held for community arts activist Armando Perez on Aug. 1. The ceremony will take place at 8:30 pm at the CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center, which Perez co-founded more than 20 years ago. CHARAS owns and manages the 374-seat Bimbo Rivas Theatre, which is being opened for the Fringe Festival and for subsequent other bookings. Perez was murdered April 4, 1999 outside his wife's apartment in Long Island City, Queens. Four suspects were arrested but have since been released. Supporters are seeking what they call "a real investigation into his death."
CHARAS is located at 605 E. 9 Street (between Avenues B and C) on the Lower East Side, where Perez served as a district leader.
-- By Murdoch McBride