Good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Sam Gomez.

I'm the director of diversity and inclusion for the city of New Rochelle.

And I would like to thank everyone who came out today.

I know tomorrow we have a big storm, but today we get to celebrate.

So before we begin, I would like to thank all the people who made this possible.

My boss, City Manager Wilfredo Melendez.

Without his support and mayor Yadira Ramos Herbert, we wouldn't be able to do this event.

These events, as the director of diversity and inclusion, these events are important to me in order for us to show our diversity and show the beautiful people of New Rochelle, right?

We have such a great community.

And you showcases here.

And it's and it's great to be able to celebrate everyone.

So I would like to thank them for being able to let me do that.

Now to the LCA for all their support and help.

Also the city staff who we wouldn't be able to do this without.

Samantha Vargas, Harry Communications Manager.

She's us it all.

So without Samantha, I don't know where we would be.

Then the DPW guys.

They set up all the decoration, everything looks wonderful.

They were on the ladders putting everything together.

Josh, Jose, Brian, thank you so much, guys.

Everything looks amazing.

Then the ERG group for all their help and support.

That we have an employee resource group, and they volunteered to help us with the events.

Without their support, we wouldn't be able to do this as well.

So thank you.

And without further ado, I would like to introduce Congressman George Schladimer to bring some greetings.

Well, happy new year to all who are here to celebrate and enjoy the lunar new year.

It is uh interesting, we were just chatting uh uh quietly, a few of us.

How many different major celebrations there are almost at the exact same time?

Uh we're at a point where we're still uh celebrating Black History Month, where uh those of us who are Christian are in the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday as we go forward.

Uh we're in the early part of the stages of uh Ramadan, uh the the Muslim uh fasting and and prayerful period of time, and uh with so many other things that are going on, it tells you that our strength is in our diversity, that the fact that we come from different cultures, but we can enjoy each other's culture, each other's music.

I can show you by my waistline, each other's food.

And uh and and and really revel in the fact that we're different, but we're all together.

And I think in the to those of us here in this country that we so we show our respect for each culture, and for today, those of uh Asian uh heritage, this is a day that everybody celebrates.

We join you in uh in the celebration of of the new year, the year of the horse, uh, as I understand.

I know there's a symbolism behind each of those uh names.

I was born in the year of the snake, and I went into politics, so that's maybe scary.

But uh I'm sure before we're finished today, we'll have a celebratory time.

So thank you very much, and thank you, Neurochell, Madam Mayor, thank you for doing this.

Awkwardly.

I think the Congressman really touched on anything I was gonna say.

I'm just really proud to be the mayor of a city with a tremendous staff.

Sam, you're very generous to extend thanks.

You guys bring amazing ideas that are so easy to support because it's reflective of what makes New Rochelle so special.

It really is our diversity that we always come together and we can just find the time to celebrate all the different cultures, all the different communities, and have a good time uplifting all of that.

Just it just really new Rochelle is a special place, and and everybody who's here, you get that, and we're here today because we understand the importance of celebrating each other.

So thank you for coming out selfishly.

Just make sure you listen to the robocall about the snow, right?

Um if you have a driveway, use it.

Um if you don't, there's a lot of free parking lots, please use them.

Um the team is ready to go, but uh the snow gets picked up faster if the cars are not on the road.

So that's a very selfish PSA.

Aside from that, looking forward to all of the presentations that are gonna happen today.

Thank you, everyone, for putting this together.

And now we'd like you to introduce our city manager, Wilfredo Melendez.

Hello, good afternoon.

Thanks for coming.

I think all the thank yous was said already, but I'm gonna say real quick again.

Uh first of all, I want to thank uh Eric and Dan and all of the team at OCA in Westchester, as well as our diversity and inclusion office, especially Sammy and our communications office, Samantha, for all the work.

It's a lot of work putting these things together, and I we really appreciate it.

They really turn out really well.

Um Sammy mentioned we have an employee resource group, which is city employees that volunteer their time for these events, and I like to thank them too.

They put on a lot of hard work.

Um, just the you know, the Lunar New Year celebrations mark the beginning of a new year, the first full moon.

Uh the festivities mark the occasion across a number of countries in Asia, including China, Korea, and Vietnam, each with their own customs and traditions, and some of them we're gonna get to see tonight.

Um 2026 is mentioned is the year of the fire horse back for the first time in 60 years.

So I don't know, George's year, I don't know what year was that.

I don't want to date you, but but in Chinese zodiac, the horse represents energy, movement, vitality, ideas that align with setting the tone and intention for new year.

So as we gather this evening, I hope that everyone enters this lunar year, new year, with a sense of excitement and a hope for the possibility of what lies ahead.

So thanks for everybody for participating and coming out tonight.

Please be safe tomorrow, as the mayor said, and please enjoy the the celebrations.

Thank you.

And now I would like to introduce Eric Chen, the OCA Western Hudson Valley Present.

Good evening.

That means how are you?

It means happy new year.

Thank you very much for coming.

I'll keep my Oscar speech short.

I'll thank my agent, and then I just want to thank the city of the Rochelle to provide us with all this this wonderful venue and thank all of you to come out on this nice warm winter day to watch the show.

As my wife reminds me, this uh days like this belong to the next generation.

So I will not uh we'll further ado, I'll give you uh Claire Wang, who is uh watch our student who is also uh a student at the Ponteco Hero student, and she'll give us an introduction of the Chinese New Year.

Uh Claire, please come up with evening everyone, and welcome to our 2026 Lunar New Year celebration.

Today we gather to honor tradition, culture, and new beginnings together.

Even though Lunar New Year began a few days ago, it's never too late to celebrate.

Next slide.

Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a tradition that focuses on welcoming a fresh start.

This year, 2026 celebrates the year of the horse, which is a symbol of energy, progress, and moving forward.

Lunar New Year is celebrated in not just China where it originated, but also many other countries across Asia, including Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and more.

And here in New York, Lunar New Year has been officially recognized as a public school holiday since 2023 to acknowledge the diversity in our community.

Around this time, families will gather for reunion dinners to spend time, eat good food, and celebrate with their loved ones.

Before the Lunar New Year arrives, families will clean their houses to get rid of last year's bad luck and make space for new good luck.

People will decorate their houses with red colored decorations to symbolize luck and prosperity in the coming year.

This is also a time to honor our ancestors and embrace new beginnings.

And of course, everyone's favorite part red envelopes filled with money are given to children and unmarried adults as blessings.

Some other common traditions and crafts for the new year are setting off fireworks, the dragon dance, lion dance, and making paper crafts, which are all meant to bring joy and good fortune.

Thank you again for joining us and celebrating this wonderful holiday.

May this year of the horse bring everyone energy, progress, and success.

Thank you.

Thank you, Claire.

Now, traditionally, we start with lion dance.

We have the wonderful lion dance group from uh Yosen's studio and the Maest Dance Studio who have been doing this for three years, so they know what they're doing.

And then we have a wonderful kids from the dance studio who will be performing in the wonderful lives.

So just a quick quick intro.

Okay, for the next event, we have two fair talented dancers, Jiang Yi and uh Wang Bao.

They're like the two mothers who have who love dancing, so they take their time raising children, and then also practicing the dance for the special event.

And that dance is a very is a Chinese classical dance called when tea flowers uh bloom.

So we would like to please give a big round of applause and a welcome for the two wonderful dancers, Jiang Yi and Wang Book.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Wonderful dance.

Now next up, we have a traditional Korean folk dancing group.

Yes.

Now how he just flew in from Korea, so you though this is a very special event that she was able to make it.

And the three of them will be put performing this wonderful dance.

And they have already done it before at Westchester, Hudson River Museum, the Eddison Ballroom, and other places.

Thank you for that wonderful performance.

Thank you very much.

Come tell me that.

Now, kids, they've been training for ten years.

Don't try this at home.

I don't want to get complaints from your parents, okay.

Now, next one is a wonderful little girl who will be dancing from uh the my stance studio.

Now, just some background.

This is a meal Jordan Dance Group is a one of the myority ethnic groups in China.

There are last I counted fifty six ethnic groups in China to show that Chin China is a very diverse country, just like America, just like many places that is have such a long history.

So please welcome Sophie Young.

Please give a big round of applause.

So that was an amazing performance.

Thank you again.

This has been a wonderful time.

Thank you again for sharing experience with us.

So if anyone have any questions, want to take pictures, uh, meet and greet.