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Fire Burns And Drama Unfolds…Yule Show To Feature 'Singing Policeman'


Fire Burns And Drama Unfolds

July 11, 2004
Copyright © 2004 SO FL SUN-SENTINEL. All rights reserved.

Burning Precinct Puerto Rico: Book Three.
Steven Torres. Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's. $23.95. 242 pp.

Oline H. Cogdill

Luis Gonzalo's 25th anniversary celebration as sheriff of the central mountain town of Angustias is interrupted when a fire engulfs a farmhouse. Houses in this part of Puerto Rico usually are in remote parts of the countryside, and by the time Luis, his deputies and the townspeople reach the blaze they are only able to save the family's infant.

The fire was arson and the result, Luis is sure, of large-scale crime moving into this small town. But solving the crime will take every skill his small, but insightful team of deputies have as they battle corrupt politicians and vicious criminals. Luis will wonder just how well he knows the townspeople -- and who he can he count on.

In his third mystery set in Puerto Rico, author Steven Torres expertly combines the solid plotting of a police procedural with a gentle, revealing look at myriad characters.

Old-timers, new residents and those suspicious of the police each receive a thoughtful examination. Torres, born in the Bronx to parents who emigrated to the United States in the 1950's, spent part of his childhood in Puerto Rico and is now an assistant professor of English at Utica College in upstate New York.

Torres weaves in the customs, lifestyle and politics to give a total picture of Puerto Rico. Burning Precinct Puerto Rico's atmospheric view of the land is comparable to what Tony Hillerman does for the southwest, Steve Hamilton for upper Michigan and James W. Hall for Florida.


Yule Show To Feature 'Singing Policeman'

BY WHITNEY SMITH WHITNEY.SMITH@INDYSTAR.COM

September 23, 2004
Copyright © 2004
The Indianapolis News/Indianapolis Star. All rights reserved.

Tenor Daniel Rodriguez will serve as host of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's 2004 First Indiana "Yuletide Celebration" in December.

There will be 27 evening and matinee performances Dec. 3-23 at Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle. Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Oct. 4.

Rodriguez, who recently retired from the New York Police Department, became known as the "Singing Policeman" in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Since then, he has been asked to perform during many patriotic programs.

Rodriguez will be the first male "Yuletide" host since Ted Keegan was master of ceremonies five years ago. Previous hosts have included soprano Sylvia McNair, vocalist Sandi Patty, soap opera actress Pamela Isaacs and comedian Kaye Ballard.

Rodriguez has sung with the Indianapolis Symphony on two previous occasions. He performed at an ISO pops program in 2002 and sang at the orchestra's "Race Eve" concert last year.

A Brooklyn, N.Y., native whose parents were born in Puerto Rico, Rodriguez began singing professionally as a teen.

He recorded a patriotic album called "The Spirit of America" in 2002. His most recent recording is "From My Heart."

Tickets are $34 to $58 for adults and $20 to $44 for children 4-12. They can be purchased by calling (317) 639-4300 or (800) 366-8457, or online at www.IndianapolisSymphony.org.


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