Alameda County and BART Celebrate Lunar New Year “Year of the Horse”

Oakland, CA - At the BART board meeting on Thursday, February 27, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson presented a commendation to recognize the nine-year partnership between the County of Alameda, BART and the Asian Community Collaborative to highlight the diversity of the Asian and Pacific Islander community in Alameda County.

On February 13, 2014, the 9th Annual Lunar New Year celebration was held at the Lake Merritt BART station plaza, where over 600 elementary students attended from the Oakland Unified School District (Burckhalter Elementary, Carl Munck Elementary, Emerson Elementary, Joaquin Miller Elementary, Lincoln Elementary and Alice Learning Center) and the Berkeley Unified School District (Cragmont Elementary).  Also in attendance were employees from the County of Alameda and BART and members of the community.

“Alameda County is home to one of the most culturally diverse communities,” Supervisor Carson said. “26 percent of the County’s population is Asian and Asian Pacific Islander, and over 100 languages are spoken in the region.”

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and BART’s Department Manager of Customer Services Julie Yim also brought greetings to the group.

Entertainment at the celebration included a demonstration by BART police dogs, lion dancing and a Kung Fu Exhibition, Mongolian dancing, Chinese harp played by Winnie Wong, a Korean senior drumming and choir group, and two songs performed by the Alice Learning Center preschool choir.

2014 is the “Year of the Horse” according to the lunar calendar. People born in the Year of the Horse are extremely animated, active and energetic. People of this sign love to be in a crowd, like entertainment, have a deft sense of humor, love to take center stage and delight audiences everywhere. Those born in the Year of the Horse are trustworthy, friendly and like to be surrounded by a large circle of their relatives and friends.