Queens Gazette: Celebrating Lunar New Year In Elmhurst

On Saturday, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris joined Congresswoman Grace Meng, Assemblymember Steven Raga, Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, Coun­cilmembe Shekar Krishnan, and NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue for a Lunar New Year celebration in CC Moore Home­stead Park in Elmhurst. The event was also supported by the Chinese American Planning Council, Asian Americans for Equality, and NYC Health and Hospitals.

The celebration began with remarks in English and Chinese by Krishnan and District Attendees were treated to cultural perform­ances cele­brating the Lunar New Year at CC Moore Homestead Park in Elmhurst on Febru­ary 11. Director Weilai Zhou Rice respectively, fol­lowed by a traditional dance performance. The elected officials then participated in the Lion Dance, holding heads of lettuce aloft during the performance and giving the Lions the traditional red envelope at the end of the performance.

The elected officials ended the program­ming with short remarks, in which Gianaris highlighted the variety of firsts in the group: Krishnan is the first Indian American elected to NYC Council, Meng is the first Asian American elected to Congress in New York, Cruz is the first Dreamer elected to the State Assembly, Raga is the first Filipino American elected to the State Assembly, and Gianaris is the first Greek American to hold elected office in New York City.

After the conclusion of the program, atten­dees were invited to visit the tables of the community groups and elected officials’ of­fices that were present.

Read the entire story and view more photos at the Queens Gazette here.