February 11, 2017 — OCA-NJ advocates for the hopes and aspirations of all Asian Pacific Americans gathered once again with nearly 200 members including their families, friends and neighbors for the Annual Lunar New Year Celebration Dinner. Returning to Avenel, NJ at the Royal Seafood restaurant, this year’s celebration included all the fun and festivities that OCA-NJ commits to bringing to our New Jersey community.
President Laura Lee began the annual dinner with introductions of current board members and welcomed in a year of hope and achievements to all. Board members Henry and Maureen, both active contributors to greater New Jersey’s cause for raising awareness in our cultural and youth community, animated the sleeping lion for a round of celebratory lion dancing with the eye-dotting ceremony. Accompanied by two lions pulling along the percussion section, the performance made its round accepting the offers and fed on red envelopes as a blessing—the last of the lions snatching the elevated cabbage (one hundred Choi) and tossing it and the contents, showering the audience with a couplet held in its mouth “Kung Hei Fat Choy” returning the offer of blessing for a happy new year. The rest of the evening continued with the sharing of a delicious meal of Cantonese dishes with awards and prizes given away by drawings of winning tickets by our very own Sue Pai Yang throughout the evening.
The evening came to its successful conclusion with thanks to Alyson Yee, but not without a visit from a costumed lord of wealth in a traditional double-breasted long dress and the wise elder Sau representing longevity and holding a peach as a symbol for immortality. We would like to thank and honor all the guests who participated in this wonderful celebration including New Jersey’s John H Bang, Cochi Ho, Helen Yu, Susan Cai, Robert May, Jim and Tennie Griffin, and Cathy Bao Bean. And we offer our many thank you and well being to Virginia L. Ng who will be continuing with OCA National for making this happen.
