Happy Holi! The Spring Festival of Colors

Come and attend a Holi celebration at the Queens Museum, at the New York City Building on April 28th from 2pm-4pm. This colorful event is presented by the Hindu Temple Society of North AmericaHoli marks the onset of Spring when the regeneration of Mother Earth also takes place. As the Earth fills the atmosphere with the vibrant colors of the flowers and greenery, so does Holi. Therefore, it is only apt that Earth Day be celebrated along with Holi celebrations.

May the joyous spirit of the Festival of Colors pervade our hearts and homes. Come and enjoy Colorful Multi-Cultural Dances and Music. Performers from different nationalities and cultures will come together to express their joy of the changing season and their gratitude to Mother Earth for Her bounty. This colorful event, which will be a feast for the eyes, ears, and mind, is sure to put everyone in the spirit of spring and friendship.

Free and Open to all!

What is Holi?

  • Holi is one of the popular festivals of Northern India
  • It is celebrated on the full moon day in March-April, signaling the end of winter and the onset of spring.
  • This ancient festival, as with most others, marks the triumph of good over evil.
  • Holi is the beginning of a new year for some, and a harvest festival for others.

How is Holi celebrated?

  • Houses are cleaned as in spring cleaning. Spring cleaning clears our physical environment as well as our mind.
  • Bonfires are lit on many street corners on the eve of Holi, where some dance to the rhythm of dhol (drums), while singing devotional and folk songs. After an inactive winter, these activities wake up the body, mind, and spirit.
  • Color is sprinkled on others as an act of friendship. The colors were originally plant-derived and had ãyurvedic benefits.

A sprinkling of Color:

On the next day comes the tradition of applying vibrant color to participants faces and bodies of the festival as an expression of love and affection. This is by far, the most joyful and fun part, making Holi the most colorful festival of India.

This ancient tradition is said to have been initiated by Lord KrishnaRadha and other cowherds who smeared color powder on each other as a symbol of their divine love and affection for each other.

Today, eager participants vie with one another to be the first to apply color (powder and/or liquid) on others until they are fully covered, drenched and become unrecognizable. Out of respect, youngsters color only the feet of elders. Fun filled pranks will be played on each other throughout the festival!

Here’s your winner to the Women’s History Month art contest

Women's History Month 2018

Joyce Zheng is your 2018 winner for the annual Women’s History Month Art Contest.

A 9th grader at Townsend Harris High School, Joyce drew a picture of Edith Wharton, an American novelist, short story writer and designer from New York City.

Edith Wharton won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1921, the first woman to receive the honor.

Joyce’s prize is a gift card from Amazon. Her portrait of Edith Windsor will appear on the cover of next year’s contest brochure.

14th Annual Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival

Looking for something to do this weekend?

The Japanese American Association of New York will host its 14th annual Sakura Matsuri this Saturday, from 11am to 1pm.

This annual festival is held in order to celebrate the spring blossoming of the cherry trees at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The event will feature live Taiko drum performances, a traditional Japanese chorus, a Japanese folk dance, and a tea ceremony.

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Pols call on Parks to inspect trees on Union Turnpike

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State lawmakers are calling on the Parks Department to inspect the trees along Union Turnpike from Francis Lewis Boulevard to Main Street.

“Although they may be a small part of our blueprint, trees in our neighborhoods shouldn’t be neglected,” says Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.

According to the pols, many civic associations and residents have requested more care for the trees along the stretch.

Groups calling for the expedited inspections include the Hillcrest Estates Civic Association and the Fresh Meadows Homeowners Civic Association.

Annual Mother’s Day Essay Contest coming up

Mother's Day Essay Contest 2018

Mother’s Day is approaching, and that means the annual Mother’s Day Essay Contest is here.

Assemblyman Edward Braunstein is inviting students in grades 2-5 to enter the contest.

The submissions can be any length, and should have a Mother’s Day theme, such as your favorite experience or why your mother is so special to you.

Submit your entry with your full name, grade and school information, along with your essay, by Friday, May 11.

Mail it to Braunstein’s office (213-33 39th Avenue, Suite 238) or by email at braunsteine@nyassembly.gov.

Winners will be chosen in grades 2-5.

For more information, call 718-357-3588.

Wheelchair Basketball Hosted by the Brooklyn Nets

On Tuesday, April 10, at the Al Oerter Recreation Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park at 131-40 Fowler Ave., from 7:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m., the Brooklyn Nets will host a wheelchair basketball event.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play wheelchair basketball and know the rules inside and out? Well, here’s your chance to learn from the best!

Come out and scrimmage against other wheelchair basketball players from the NYC area. It’s guaranteed to be tons of fun and you’ll come back every week for more action!

 

Outer borough transit gets $50 million infusion

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Everyone knows two-thirds of Queens is a transit desert.

Many neighborhoods, like most of northeast Queens outside of Flushing, don’t have MTA train lines. Commuters are forced to take unreliable buses or pay more to hop on the LIRR.

State lawmakers from Queens are looking to improve transit for outer-borough straphangers. In the 2018-2019 state budget, Assembly members secured $50 million to improve transportation.

“As a representative of an area with no subway or train lines and very limited bus options, I look forward to working on ensuring that these funds are properly allocated to improve Queens transit,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic from Fresh Meadows.

“With this new funding, we aim to improve transit options in some of the most underserved parts of our city” added Assemblyman Ed Braunstein from Bayside.

Time will tell how this $50 million will be broken down for improvement projects throughout the borough.