Birthday Party! Albino Pineda celebrates 90 very busy years

 It was a “Big Night” on December 21 when Santa Paula artist, author and Farmworker Monument Founder Al Pineda (shown with wife Lydia) was celebrated on the eve of his 90th birthday. Members of the Pineda and Salas’ clans as well as many friends enjoyed a feast featuring carne asada, tamales and champurrado while enjoying a Mariachi band playing traditional Mexican ballads. The number of family and friends on hand to celebrate his birthday almost mirrored the years that Pineda-a recipient of the Latino Town Hall Ray Garcia Humanitarian Award, World War II veteran, former Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 Commander, local and state El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church official and Santa Paula Elementary School District Trustee-has packed so much living into!