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Vol. 31 No. 9 • Friday, March 2, 2018
Published Weekly from Houston
More than 15,000 celebrate the Lunar New Year at CCC
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March 2, 2018 InFRIDAY, Section 2 l l l l l l l
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Students make emotional return to Florida school Heartbroken but strong after a tragedy by Leila Macor
P
A R K LAND, Florida | AFP | 2/28/2018 - With tears, fears and defiance, students made an emotional return Wednesday to their Florida high school where a former classmate went on a shooting rampage two weeks ago, killing 17 people.
The 2018 Lunar New Year Festival Dragon dance performance was a thrill for all.
H
OUSTON - More than 15,000 people from all over Greater Houston attended the Chinese Community Center’s (CCC) 15th annual Lunar New Year Festival on February 17. The 2018 Lunar New Year Festival welcomed in the Year of the Dog and thrilled Houstonians with a full day of performances representing China, Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, and Polynesia. The event was highlighted by traditional Lion and Dragon dances, which were held on the main performance stage and around the festival grounds. Cultural performances ranged from martial arts and Chinese yoyo demonstrations to belly dancing and traditional folk music. Attendees also visited the festival’s East West Bank Marketplace, an outdoor bazaar that featured over 60 booths showcasing small and large businesses, community partners, and local food vendors. The booths offered delicious food from around the world, familyfriendly craft activities such as lantern making, and traditional Chinese New Year merchandise. This year’s Lunar New Year Festival was sponsored by East West Bank,
Cultral performances were a main attraction on the day of traditional celebration.
Lead Corporate Sponsor of the East West Bank Marketplace; Houston Arts Alliance through the City of Houston; H-E-B; Wells Fargo; Xfinity; Discount Power; Houston Symphony; Bud Light/Silver Eagle Distributors; Drewstar Insurance; and MD Anderson Cancer Center. In the 39 years since the Chinese Community Center was founded as a Chinese language and cultural heritage school, it has grown into the largest Asian-led social service agency in the southwestern United States. The organization supports the learning and positive development of at-risk youth, helps people from low- and moderate-income households achieve financial sta-
bility, helps immigrants integrate into American society, supports independent lifestyles for older adults and adults with disabilities, and promotes cultural awareness and appreciation for Houston’s diversity.
Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland were greeted by heavy security and scores of well- Emma Gonzalez (L), who has spoken passionately for gun reform after 17 wishers as they re- people were shot dead at her Florida school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, walks turned to classes. with others to campus on February 25, 2018, for the first time since the murders Dozens of po- (AFP Photo/JOE RAEDLE) lice officers lined the sidewalks "It was just sad to go back matic rifle. saying "Good morning" to there and not have my friends each child, retired officers "It's pretty upsetting," said who were in the class with me Miller. "But it was also refreshpassed out flowers. Former anymore." students, neighbors and their ing to talk to everyone because children held banners readLikewise, for Kimberly people don't really understand ing "We Love You," "You've Miller, the first day back meant how it feels, no matter how Got This" and "We Are With confronting the absence of her much they try to understand." You." geography teacher, 35-year-old "You're at home and they try Scott Beigel. "It's all a little overwhelmto empathize with you, but you ing," said one 17-year-old Beigel was one of three staff come here and everyone else student named William, who killed, along with 14 teenag- experienced it -- it's kind of a shared a classroom with two ers, when former student Niko- relief because they can just reof the young victims, Nicholas Cruz entered the school on late," said the 14-year-old. las Dworet and Meadow PolValentine's Day and opened fire lack. with an AR-15-style semi-auto- Continued on next page
Char Dham Hindu Temple Grand Opening
The Year of the Dog represents a milestone year for CCC. The agency expects to complete its New Horizons expansion project in fall 2018. Once completed, the project will add more than 24,000 square feet of programming space to the organization’s campus through the construction of a state-licensure-compliant adult day center, auditorium, multipurpose conference/office suites, courtyard garden, and additional recreational space.
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