Saturday, March 2, 2013

89.3 KPCC Southern California Public Radio

Lantern Festival lights up LA, concludes Chinese New Year

Amy Lieu | 

ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

People visit a lantern show to celebrate the Spring Festival on February 17, 2013 in Guangzhou, China. The Chinese Lunar New Year of Snake also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar, is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the Fifteenth day.
The Chinese New Year celebration ends on the 15th day of the lunar new year. The Lantern Festival draws the cultural holiday to a harmonious close.
Although the actual date this year was last Sunday, Feb. 24, the Chinese American Museum will still host its 12th annual Lantern Festival this Saturday, March 2 in Los Angeles. Admission is free.
Michael Truong, education programs manager of the Chinese American Museum, says that the festival is an educational tool to make Chinese culture accessible to the public. It allows the community to learn and appreciate the history, traditions and customs of this Chinese holiday, Truong said.
Truong says that the event is a cultural celebration to close out the new year.  The San Gabriel Valley and Chinatown have already had luna celebrations during the two-week holiday, so "we feel that the Lantern Festival is a way to commemorate the ending of the New Year," Troung said.  
The Lantern Festival's history and origins have many interpretations. According to ancient mythology, a villager had accidentally killed the favorite phoenix that belonged to the god, Jade Emperor of Heaven, Truong says. This prompted him to destroy the village on the 15th day of the new year.
One villager suggested lighting lanterns, so on the 15th day, the villagers lit thousands of lanterns. When the god looked down from heaven, he thought the village was already on fire and decided to spare the villagers' lives — thus came a yearly celebration of the anniversary of the villagers' survival.  Truong says the Lantern Festival lights the way to a prosperous new year. 
UC Irvine History Professor Yong Chen gives another interpretation. He says that the Lantern Festival is on the 15th day for both Buddhist and Taoist religious reasons.
Buddhists worship Buddha on the 15th, while Taoists worship an important god on the 15th. Both religions use red lanterns to observe the tradition. "Red is also an auspicious, festive and cheerful color," Chen said.
He added that on the 15th day of the lunar year is a full moon, which signifies that the spring season has arrived. This is a time when the planting season begins and people pray for good harvest, Chen said.
People also want to celebrate under the full moon. The red lanterns "help light up the village, because in ancient times, there was no electricity," Chen said.
The Lantern Festival is from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 2. It will include various festivities and "encompass all parts of the culture," Truong says. Here are the four main parts of the event:
Stage Performances
There will be over 20 stage performances every hour on the hour from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., including lion dances, Chinese folk dances and magic shows.  The Silver Dragon stage performance will end the night. 
Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts are also a big part of the festival. There will be 14 workshops teaching how to make various Chinese-themed arts and crafts, including abacus making, red envelope making, kite making and — of course — lantern making. The workshops are taught by volunteers. The museum staff trains the volunteers on how to make the arts and crafts, who in turn teach the public.
Museum
The Chinese American Museum will have extended hours until 7 p.m. for visitors. Currently, there are three main exhibits featured at the museum.
Food
Local food trucks Kogi BBQ Taco Truck, LudoTruck and Fluff Ice will serve food.  For more information, visit theirevent page on Facebook or  their website . 
Want to make your own lantern? Here's a step-by-step guide:
1. Get a sheet of construction paper. 
2. Make a drawing.
3. Fold the paper in half lengthwise. 
4. Cut strips about 1/2 inch apart. 
5. Unfold the paper.
6. Tape the edges together. 
Here is your final product!
The Chinese American Museum has more than 35,000 visitors a year. The historic building is one of the only existing buildings from Old Chinatown, as opposed to the Chinatown we know today.
The museum is located across from Union Station and south of Olvera Street. Check out our map below:
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, February 16, 2013

El Segundo TV: Sustainable El Segundo’s 'Family Energy Day' promotes ways to go green

On a brisk yet warm Saturday morning, around 350 wide-eyed El Segundo residents and members of the South Bay community joined at Plaza El Segundo for “Family Energy Day.” They gathered around the solar panels, electric vehicle charging station and demo car, not to mention the eight various environmental vendors.

 ImageIf you remember my two previous stories on Arbor Day and the Water Harvest Festival, even our friends at Tree Musketeers and West Basin Municipal Water District were there.
 The energy day is all part of the initiative called “Sustainable El Segundo.” About two years ago, private met public when NRG Energy partnered with the City of El Segundo to provide resources for creating a more sustainable environment. 
 Marie Fellhauer, El Segundo City Council Member, says the city is at the forefront of promoting sustainability and that she is proud to be a part of it.
 “And so having this event here, bringing the awareness to the community and to other public officials as well, and being an example … sets a tone for the entire region,” Fellhauer said. 
 There was something for every part of the family. Kids played educational games, while adults listened intently during green workshops.
 What struck me was the strong message about conservation. Energy, for example, is often taken for granted. However, one way to make a house green is to install solar panels that conserve energy use while making electricity bills more cost-efficient. Experts on alternative energy gave workshops to educate the public about solar energy.
 Another method of conservation is recycling. Remember the “three R’s” from middle school?—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? Non-profit organization Grades of Green reminds the public and reinforces the “three R’s” in both kids and adults. The green organization’s Programs and Outreach Coordinator, Allie Bussjaeger coordinated games with the kids. She helped them distinguish which items to put in the recycle bin and which in the trash bin.
 “I think it’s just a matter of taking the time to look at the packaging, making sure it’s basically clean and empty. Every city has their own guidelines for recycling, so maybe making an effort to go on city websites, finding out who the waste hauler is, and then figuring out what they do accept,” Bussjaeger said.
 The Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station and the demo EV was a big hit. I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the brand-new, vibrant red EV.  Electric Vehicle Specialist Jill Brandt fully described its features. Check that out in my video!
 The EV may have convinced South Bay resident, David Louff to turn his car green.  
 “Actually, I think the thing that we enjoyed the most was learning about the charging station for the electric cars, and how they are expanding in Southern California,” Louff said. “I consider maybe my next car might be electric.”
 Watch my story here! I am excited to be covering my third green story for El Segundo TV.
Tune in next time for more!
 Yours truly,
Amy Lieu
El Segundo TV Reporter
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, February 11, 2013

89.3 KPCC Southern California Public Radio

12 traditions, 15 events to ring in the Lunar New Year: The Year of the Snake

Amy Lieu | 

CHINA-LUNAR-NEW YEAR

Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

Visitors look at a display celebrating Chinese lunar new year in Shanghai on February 8, 2013. Preparations continue in China for the Lunar New Year which will celebrate the Year of the Snake on February 10.

This year, Lunar New Year is on Feb. 10. But those who celebrate the yearly tradition start much earlier than that. The cultural holiday involves many traditions, some which date back to ancient times, and though there are many variations on each, there are many that are widely celebrated.
1. Year of the Snake

There are twelve animals of the Zodiac. This year will be the Year of the Snake. Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at UC Riverside, Vivian-Lee Nyitray  says that there are many variations on the snake’s characteristics, but overall people agree that a person of the snake year is charming, rational, intuitive and lucky with finances.  She says the year is likely to be unpredictable and unstable, requiring people to prepare for the unexpected.
UC Irvine History Professor Yong Chen says the snake resembles the dragon, which is a symbol of power, dignity and prosperity. According to Chinese legend, ancient ancestors had a human face, but a body in the shape of a snake, so the snake represents ancestral worship. Chen says that some believe that the snake symbolizes longevity not only because of its shape, but also that it can regenerate life itself.
2. New Year’s Eve Dinner and Food
The New Year’s Eve Dinner takes place the night before the New Year, just like Christmas Eve the night before Christmas. Chen says it’s also like a Thanksgiving dinner, a time when the family gets together to celebrate.  Along with the dinner comes a multitude of traditional foods.
Although there are regional variations, certain dishes in the meal often have symbolic meaning, Nyitray says.
The main dessert is the New Year’s Cake, made out of ground sticky rice. In Chinese, it is called “Nian Gao.” The “Nian” means “year,” while the “Gao” means “cake” and also “high” or “tall.” The overall meaning: A wish that the coming year will fulfill one’s high hopes. The cake may have fruits and nuts or seeds in it.
Fish is a common dish for the dinner. The word fish in Chinese is “yu,” which is a homophone for the word “plenty.” This symbolizes prosperity and surplus.
Oranges or tangerines are popular fruits for the new year. Since these fruits include segmented parts that make a whole, they symbolize a whole family made of individuals.
Nuts or seeds symbolize the hope for many children in the family. Some typical seeds used in the New Years dinner are sunflower, melon and pumpkin seeds.
Dumplings are also a common dish; its shape represents unity.
3. Cleaning
Prior to the New Year, the house needs to be thoroughly cleaned. The significance is in sweeping away any negativity from the past year. It also signifies a fresh start, a new beginning. This is the origin, in Chinese cultural areas, of “spring cleaning,” since New Year’s is also known as the “Spring Festival,” Nyitray says.
4. Decorations
The characters for auspicious words such as “spring,” “happiness,” “longevity,” “prosperity,” are written on squares of red paper to be pasted on one’s door.
One of the main characters in Chinese is called “fu,” which means good fortune.  Sometimes the character is pasted upside down to indicate spirits looking down from above that the family’s fortunes have not been good and could use a change. In some interpretations, they’re inverted because the word for “upside down” is a homophone for “arrive,” and thus is a hope for the arrival of fortune. For some, the “fu” is pasted upside down so that devils would not know the meaning of it, therefore warding off evil spirits.
Couplets, a pair of often rhyming good wishes, are written on red paper to paste on either side of the front door.
New images of “door gods,” who are deified warriors that once guarded an emperor’s private chambers, are pasted on doors to guard the entrance to people’s homes.
Paper decorations could also include other auspicious images. Bats are one of them; the word for “bat” is a homophone for “fortune.” Ships carry the meaning of “smooth sailing” or “good fortune arriving easily.” Peaches are associated with Daoist notions of immortality and thus “long life.”
5. New Year’s Day
Visiting family is a major tradition on New Year’s Day. Some families stay awake for the whole night, while some retire after the midnight firecrackers.  If they stayed up all night, they would wake up later to visit family and spend the day together. New Year’s Day is also when families distribute red envelopes. After doing so, people will visit other family members and friends for “a convivial start of the New Year,” Nyitray says.   
6. Red Envelopes and New Money
Red envelopes are a meaningful gift for children and a way to pay respects to elders, all the while sharing good fortune.
Nyitray says red is an auspicious color, a color of vitality and life. Red envelopes are given by elders to the youth.  They are filled with cash only even, not odd, amounts. “It might be two $10 bills for a total of $20, not a single bill and never an odd amount such as $15,” Nyitray says.
The bills should be crisp and new, just like the New Year.
Children will line up in front of their grandparents and parents on New Year’s morning, or after midnight and the setting off of firecrackers, to pay their respects by bowing, after which they receive their red envelope, Nyitray says.
Chen says that red envelopes are a more acceptable way to give money. It is not acceptable to give cash alone. 
7. New Year’s Greeting
There is one main greeting for the New Year. In Mandarin Chinese, it is “Gong Xi Fa Cai.” In Cantonese Chinese, it is “Gong Hay Fat Choy.” In Vietnamese, it is “Chuc Mung Nam Moi.” Its meaning is “Congratulations on reaching the New Year, May you be prosperous.”
8. Superstitions
The New Year is a cheerful time that should not be marked by taboos.
One should avoid the word “death” and any other word that may sound like it. Instead, good luck wishes should make up most of the conversation.
One should not use a broom or sweep on New Year’s Day, as this might sweep away good luck.
Some believe that holding scissors on New Year’s might “cut” the New Year’s luck. Nyitray says it may vary depending on the region. The tradition might have also carried-over from pregnancy taboos, “pregnant women were not supposed to carry scissors for fear of symbolically cutting the fetus and hurting it,” Nyitray says.
Similarly, it is widely believed that one should not cut their hair on New Year’s Day. It should be done prior to the New Year. "Weapon-like objects are not supposed to be used in the holiday season," Chen says.  "In some places, cutting hair on the first day of the New Year jeopardizes the life of mother's brothers."
Cussing is not allowed for some as well. Nyitray says it would make sense to have a “clean” mouth.
People will also try to repay all debts by the start of the New Year. Similar to cleaning the house, paying all debts signifies starting the New Year with a clean slate. 
9. Length of Holiday
The New Year starts the night of New Year’s Eve and lasts for fifteen days.  The 15th Day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, where red lanterns decorate the scene. The festival begins with the new moon and ends when the moon reaches fullness.  The New Year ends with families eating glutinous dumplings on the 15th Day. 
Chen says the fifteen days is a time of idle, “a time to recreate, regenerate, relax, visit friends and family.”
Many businesses also close 3 days to a week after New Year and then reopen. 
10. Temples or other prayer
Whether one visits a temple depends on their regional and national background. It may or may not be done, depending on family affiliation and tradition, says to Nyitray.
"People do go to temples to hear the great bells (or gongs) and drums sounded to welcome in the new year and chase out the old," says Nyitray. "But the suppression of religion in China during the Cultural Revolution led to the cessation of this tradition in areas where it had been prominent." 
Many do visit to hear the gongs and drums that welcome the New Year and chase out the old.
People also observe New Year’s at home. During New Year’s Day, many set up and pay respect to shrines, lighting up incense and burning paper money for their ancestors.
11. Firecrackers
Firecrackers are lit at midnight, just as New Year’s Day begins.  They're used to announce the ending of the old year and to usher in the new.  The noise and flashes of light also drive away any lingering evil spirits.
12. Lion Dance
The Lion Dance serves to bring the community together every New Year. It is believed to bring good fortune and scare away devils.
Lion dances were traditionally performed at the re-opening of businesses. Nowadays their performances could happen anytime during the year.  The lions are believed to chase away evil spirits and to ensure a good opening and prosperity for the business.
According to Chen, the Cantonese brought this tradition to the U.S. in the late 19th century. Today, the Lion Dance is a part of the tradition many major American cities. 
Interested in celebrating? Check our map of Lunar New Year events in Southern California below. 




Posted by at No comments:

Monday, December 31, 2012

89.3 KPCC Southern California Public Radio

Season's Givings: TreePeople restores nature with the help of volunteers

Amy Lieu | 

SG_Treepeople

Amy Lieu/KPCC

Stephanie Nelson tells KPCC about her experience as a volunteer for TreePeople, an environmental non-profit organization.
This post is part of KPCC's "Season's Givings" series, chronicling volunteer experiences  and opportunities during the holiday season.View a full listing of charitable organizations seeking help this season and let us know your holiday volunteer story!
Los Angeles is often thought of as an urban jungle, but environmental nonprofit TreePeople sees the potential for greener spaces. Their mission is to reach out to local communities in order to restore wildlife in damaged or underused areas of Southern California. 
Their teams plant, restore and care for trees and plants in Angeles National Forest, the Santa Monica Mountains — even on individual school campuses.
Last year, TreePeople planted more than 14,000 trees. Since 1970, the organization has planted over 2 million trees, according to TreePeople. 
Volunteers play a major role in the organization, with more than 11,000 people donating their time in just last year.
Stephanie Nelson is one of them. In March 2011, she began volunteering after seeing the devastation that took place during a fire in the Angeles National Forest. Nearly two years later, she is a volunteer restoration supervisor. 
"I definitely feel like I am doing something good for the environment. I feel like I'm helping to restore areas, but really...I think the work changes me more than I'm changing anything," Nelson said. "I hope that I'm affecting change, but at the end of the day, what really keeps me coming back is that I feel good about what I've done that day. I feel like I've connected with people in my community."
In the next ten years, TreePeople hopes to provide more canopy tree coverage, more access to parks and improve air quality by planting trees and plants native to the area. But they need help.
The organization welcomes volunteers of all ages with a few restrictions. Find out more at their website.



Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Season's Givings 89.3 KPCC

Season's Givings: Sherman Oaks nonprofit 'The Help Group' provides support for children with special needs
Amy Lieu | 

Amy Lieu/KPCC

Andrea Lockhart is a volunteer with The Help Group's after-school improv program. She shares her experience with KPCC.

This post is part of KPCC's "Season's Givings" series, chronicling volunteer experiences  and opportunities during the holiday season.View a full listing of charitable organizations seeking help this season and let us know your holiday volunteer story!
Based in Sherman Oaks, The Help Group  operates nine day schools on seven campuses in the Los Angeles area to provide services for children with special needs related to autism, Asperger's Disorder, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays and emotional problems.
“Typically, kids with autism have a difficult time with social skills. Through the improv games, we help kind of develop those," says Andrea Lockhart, a volunteer for The Help Group’s after-school program.
The improv workshop is only one of the after-school activities offered by The Help Group's Kids Like Me program. Designed to encourage kids with autism and other developmental challenges to laugh, play and interact with one another, the programs are located on The Help Group's Sherman Oaks and Culver City campuses and are open to the public. Other classes offered after school include social skills groups, Yoga Train, ballet, chess, basketball and karate.
Lockhart has been with the program since October. 
"A lot of kids with autism tend to be bullied more than neurotypical kids," she said. "Their self-esteem tends to be a little bit lower. Here at The Help Group, they have these amazing after-school programs that help to encourage, support and uplift these kids."
The program serves more than 1,500 pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students.  
“It's inspiring," said Lockhart. "It makes my week. Every week that I'm here. It’s so uplifting to be a part of this and hope that we're making a little bit of a difference.”
On Saturday, Dec. 15, The Help Group will host a Holiday Carnival at their Sherman Oaks campus for the families in need. The group is looking for more volunteers. For more information, go to their website.


Posted by at No comments:

Season's Givings: Pasadena Humane Society seeks helpers to work with animals, outreach | 89.3 KPCC


Amy Lieu | 
Season's Givings, Pasadena Humane Society Marilyn Hoyt

Amy Lieu/KPCC

Marilyn Hoyt, a volunteer at the Pasadena Humane Society, tells KPCC about what it's like working with dogs and what keeps her coming back.
This post is part of KPCC's "Season's Givings" series, chronicling volunteer experiences  and opportunities during the holiday season. View a full listing of volunteer opportunities and let us know your holiday volunteer story!
Each year the Pasadena Humane Society provides shelter and care for a number of abandoned or homeless animals. In 2011, the organization took in nearly 12,000 animals found in La Canada Flintridge, San Marino, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Glendale, Pasadena and South Pasadena.
And each year, the PHS reunites over 1,600 lost pets with their owners. One of those owners includes KPCC’s own Patt Morrison, who found her lost dog, Edgar, at the local shelter.
Volunteers are an essential part of  the humane society.  Currently, the organization relies on more than 400 volunteers to help keep the pets active, assist in adoption outreach, work with the organization's veterinarians, and help out with clerical work.
Marilyn Hoyt, who was 2011's volunteer of the year, has been with the Humane Society for about 3 years. 
"Through the years I have been volunteering, there are obviously times when you become very attached to certain dogs … the dog really gets to know you," she said. "They know who you are because they know that you take them for the walks and you give them the treats and they respond to you. That’s a real rewarding part of all of this."
Once taken in, PHS works to socialize their animals to become more family-friendly so they'll be more attractive adoptees. "When [the dogs] get adopted, we all celebrate," Hoyt said.
Find out more about the Humane Society's volunteer program at their website. 
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

El Segundo Magazine: Water Harvest Festival Teaches Water Conservation


El Segundo TV Reporter Amy Lieu at the Water Harvest Festival

I covered the 14th Annual Water Harvest Festival last weekend. This year’s theme is “The Value of Water.”  It was really interesting to learn about water conservation. I am again inspired to save water and help save the planet.
The event was at the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility, hosted by The West Basin Municipal Water District. It’s free to the public and located right here in El Segundo.
The water festival was a big hit in the community, with about 1,500 people in attendance.  Water education, entertainment, games, and food were provided by 45 vendors.
Various booths presented information to the public. Interviewees from the community informed me about water. Through this event, the public, including myself, realized the utmost importance of conserving water. It is such a precious yet dwindling resource. I feel simply humbled and blessed to even have access to it.
Southern California gets its water from the San Francisco Bay Delta and the Colorado River. Because of population growth, sustaining the water source is becoming an increasing problem.
Some of the ways that people can conserve water are to close the faucet while brushing one’s teeth, use a broom to sweep the driveway instead of hosing it down, and limiting showers to about five minutes. Another way is by fixing any leaks.
You can find out more about water conservation, recycling water, and its importance at the West Basin website: www.westbasin.org.
In my video story, you will see the important functions of the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility. In fact, it is offering free tours to the public the second Saturday of every other month. Remaining tours for the year are September 8 and November 10.  You can also visit the website above for more information.
Watch my Water Harvest Festival story for El Segundo Magazine here.
I can’t wait to share my next story with you all!

Yours Truly,
Amy Lieu
El Segundo TV Reporter

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)