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Mesa district prepares for Chinese Lunar New Year

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

GSN Contributor

Ushering in the Lunar New Year in Asia means setting o recrackers and reworks and creating a messy, noisy and immersive experience that di ers from the North American version of looking at reworks from afar.

“We just had our New Year reworks, but this one has a di erent appeal to it; it has a lot more of a street vendor vibe. ey light it up and they don’t necessarily care about the mess, the smell, everyone just wants to be there for the celebration,” explained Anthony Amphonephong, executive director of the Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Two upcoming celebrations in Mesa celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year will try to o er the real atmosphere. Fireworks, lion dancing, Japanese Taiko Drums and Vietnamese fan dancing will make up the cultural extravaganzas.

Lunar New Year Celebration 2023, e Year of the Rabbit will take place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, at AZ International Marketplace in Mesa’s Asian District, while Culture Night, Celebrating Asian Lunar New Year organized by the Asian Festival will take place 4-10 p.m. Jan. 28 at Mesa Community College. Both outdoor events are free to attend.

“We Asians love to celebrate. So, we organized this for the community to come out and celebrate and have fun,” said local Realtor Winnie Kho Kaplan, whose husband, Steve Kaplan, founded the Asian Festival last year.

As an adviser to the festival, Winnie Kho recently secured a nonpro t designation to facilitate obtaining sponsors and keep it free so that the community may participate in large numbers.

Culture Night will have about 100 booths selling crafts and demonstrations including lantern making, kung fu, calligraphy and a tea ceremony.

Entertainment includes a lion dance, international live jazz music performed by John Williams (formerly of Herbie Hancock), Taiko Japanese drumming artist Ken Koshio and cultural dances from various Asian countries. e Asian District also wants to spread cultural awareness and events such as these is a good rst step.

“Its aim is to create a central hub for the general public to celebrate with cultural performances and things that they normally would not have access to,” said Amphonephong, who expects at least 2,000 people to attend.

Children will receive the traditional red envelopes with money and 5- to 10-yearolds may appear in a beauty pageant.

“It’s good for anyone who loves cultures. e New Year celebration is joyful,” said David Pham, a member of the Arizona Vietnamese community, which is partnering with AZ International Marketplace to put on the show.

Amphonephong said the festival is being held during the day, oriented toward the family and focused on the cultural aspect of the holiday. e district has dozens of stores and supermarkets providing goods and services.

Outside, there will be about ve main food vendors selling Chinese food, Filipino fusion, Vietnamese Pho and a donut cart. “It’s a smaller event and more intimate, that’s what they want to keep it as,” he added. is is the third Chinese New Year celebration being held in the Asian District. e rst one was held just before the pandemic hit in 2020, and it was “a huge success,” attended by more than 10,000 people. Coming out of Covid, last year’s event attracted about 12,000, and the district held another one, a night market, in October.

Initially, the Asian District Night Market was built around marketability in the area.

“As we recently branded the Asian District, we wanted to bring tra c and a lot of eyes to the area, so we recently held the Asian District Night Market,” Amphonephong said.

“We want every business owner to have the opportunity to host whatever seems t for their business and this also goes along with it. e Lunar New Year is a very, very big celebration in the Chinese and the Vietnamese community,” he said.

“AZ International wanted to host their own, so we are letting them take the reins on it and we are just helping them out, providing them the resources and what we’ve done in the past to help them succeed,” he added. e Valley has a burgeoning Asian population.

Amphonephong, who is of Laotian descent, said that when he was small, his family used to know every Laotian who lived in the area.

Nowadays, it is di erent, he said. A Laotian community is developing in Laveen, and many people are moving there from across the country.

“It’s hard to keep track. ere are at least about 100 families,” he said.

Ken Koshio, a Japanese drummer who entertained at the Asian Festival last year, will be returning fort this year’s Chiense Lunar New Year celebration in Mesa’s Asian Dstrict.

(Winnie Kho Kaplan/ Special to the Republic)

IF YOU GO

Lunar New Year Celebration: 4-0 p.m. Jan. 21 at Arizona International Marketplace, 1920 W. Broadway Road, Mesa. Lion dances at 1 and 3 p.m. and reworks displays at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Culture Night organized by Asian Festival will take place 4-10 p.m. Jan. 28 at Mesa Community College, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa. Asianfestivalaz.com.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 15, 2023 Ob uaries 480-898-6465 obits@TimesLocalMedia.com Deadline: Wednesday by 5pm

for Sunday

Deanna Mae Barnes

Deanna Mae Barnes, age 81, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on December 19, 2022. Deanna was born on March 14, 1941, in Ashtabula, OH, to Harry Sr. and Allie McClintic.

She married her true love, Lee "Allen" Barnes, in 1962 when he joined the Navy. Together they raised two children, Cynthia and Michael, in Superior, AZ, where they lived from 1970 to 1985 before moving to Mesa, AZ. Deanna received a life-saving transplant in 1986, which allowed her to continue loving and raising their children. She loved her five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Harry McClintic, Jr. and Danny McClintic. She was an amazing woman and will be deeply missed.

Deanna requested donations to your local food bank, homeless shelter, or an animal shelter in place of flowers.

Patricia A Coby (Gowdy)

P at r ic ia A Coby (Gowdy), age 74, was born on February 18, 1948 and passed away on December 26, 2022 in C a s a G r a n d e , AZ. Patricia, lovingly known as Pat, was having Christmas dinner with her Pastor Jamal Mitchell and First Lady Shayla Mitchell, speaking with them about the love of God and her family when she was called home to Heaven.

A memorial to celebrate Pat's life will be held at Redeemer Apostolic Church located at 200 E. 1st Street, Mesa, AZ 85201 on Saturday, January 21, 2023 - 11:00 am -12:30 pm repass to follow. Pat was an advocate for the homeless community, as such, any donations in her honor may be made to: Church on the Street Outreach (https://cotsphoenix.org/) located at 3118 W. Clarendon Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85017.

Sign the Guestbook at: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

JackieDaleHays

Jackie "Jack" Dale Hays, 84, passed away peacefullyinhishomeinChandler,Arizonaon January 4, 2023. His battle with serious medical issues in recent years showed his courageinfacinglife. Despitehisbattlewith medicalissues,Jackcameoutahero.

He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 29, 1938 and was adopted by his parents, D.B. and Bula Hays. He spent his childhood in Salem, Illinois and graduated fromhighschoolin1956. Throughouthishigh school years, he participated in sports and music. HestartedstudiesattheUniversityof IllinoisandthenservedintheAirForcefrom 1958through1964. Jackwasagraduateofthe Air Force Academy. After his service, Jack wasacommercialpilotforStandardAirways, Northwest Airlines, and Alaska International Air.

Jack is survived by his lifelong friend and wife, Ruthanne, and her daughters Contance andJennifer, Jack'schildrenJackieandRoyce, andhis14grand-childrenand 5greatgrandchildren.

Acelebrationoflifewillbeheldfrom1:30 PMto2:30PMon2023-01-22atMissioDei Church (Sozo Coffee), 1982 N Alma School RoadChandler,AZ. SigntheGuestbookat: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

Richard Harling

Richard Harling, 8 0 , o f G i l b e r t passed away on Frid a y , D e c e m b e r 30th, 2022. He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Linda, four children: Chauny (Pat), Troy (Tabitha), Jeff (Lisa), and Christine (Jason); four stepchildren: Debbie (Johnny), Clay (CJ), Shannon, and Kelly; 16 Grandchildren and 6 greatgrandchildren. A retired Engineer, he was known for his kindness, intelligence, woodworking talent, and wry sense of humor. A small family celebration of life was held in lieu of traditional funeral services.

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Deadline for obituaries is Wednesday at 5pm for Sunday. All obituaries will be approved by our staff prior to being activated. Be aware there may be early deadlines around holidays.

Call 480-898-6465 Mon-Fri 8:30-5 if you have questions.

21 EV women’s choral group slates introductory session

GSN NEWS STAFF

Vocal Connection, a women’s a cappella chorus, takes pride in what it does.

“It’s a proven fact that singing in a chorus is more fun when surrounded by friends, singing their hearts out,” it said in a released. “According to recent research, humans are wired for rhythmic togetherness, and bond best when making music with each other. Why? “Studies show that singing in a chorus improves our mood, with a decrease in stress, depression and anxiety. ese effects are linked to the use of deeper breathing techniques associated with singing. e bene ts are enhanced in a group setting because singing in a group o ers a sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves.

“Beyond the psychological e ects, our physical health is impacted also: lower blood pressure, increased blood oxygen saturation, elevated immunity, higher pain threshold, and stronger respiratory muscles.” e group also believes “making music together provides a sense of awe not just for the observers of a performance, but for the participants, as well. Research shows that this emotion seems to shift our focus from our own selfview to that of our community.

Toward that end, Vocal Connection is inviting area women looking to decrease stress, improve their health and make connections with other like-minded women in the community while singing to a guest night 6:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Seton Catholic Preparatory, 1150 N. Dobson Road, Chandler.

Attendees must be able to sing but do not need to be able to read music to join. Vocal training and music education are components of Vocal Connection’s many bene ts.

To accommodate those attending the Guest Night, we ask that you pre-register by emailing us at guestinfo@vocalconnection.org. Additional details will be provided but attendees must pre-register.

Vocal Connection Chorus is one of hundreds of Sweet Adeline International choruses that make up a worldwide organization of women who sing four-part a cappella and barbershop harmony.

Vocal Connection Chorus performs regularly throughout the community, offering its talent for entertainment at civic events and charitable functions, in addition to promoting harmony and friendship among women.

Information/registration: GuestInfo@ vocalconnection.org or vocalconnection. org.

Vocal Connection members are hoping other talented women turn out for the Jan. 30

guest night. (Special to GSN)

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