FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM FEBRUARY 10, 2022 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
Elmhurst Hospital, MetroPlusHealth team up for Lunar New Year celebration
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Nearly two years aft er it was overwhelmed
by the initial wave of the
COVID-19 pandemic, Elmhurst Hospital
partnered with MetroPlusHealth to celebrate
the Lunar New Year on Friday,
Feb. 4.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst rang
in the Year of the Tiger with a colorful
performance of the lion dance in the
hospital’s auditorium, as a balloon artist
fashioned balloons into the shapes of
tigers. Staff handed out red envelopes,
or “hongbao” in Mandarin and “lai se”
in Cantonese, for good luck. In Chinese
culture, red is associated with happiness,
energy and good fortune, and the red
envelope itself is considered lucky.
“Following two diffi cult years featuring
a devastating public health crisis and
a wave of anti-Asian prejudice, the Asian
Lunar New Year even at New York City
Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst will be a
jubilant celebration of the Year of the
Tiger and Queens’ proud Asian American
community,” Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards said. “Aft er everything,
our heroic health care workers have been
through during the COVID-19 pandemic;
it is great that they will get to celebrate
the Asian Lunar New Year during this
joyous event.”
Th e 545-bed city hospital serves a largely
working-class immigrant population
that became known as the “epicenter of
the epicenter” as the pandemic spread
rapidly through Corona, Jackson Heights
and Elmhurst.
“We hope the ‘Year of the Tiger’ proves
to be a time of renewed health and
strength as we begin to overcome the
COVID-19 pandemic and move forward
toward an optimistic and prosperous
future,” said Helen Arteaga Landaverde,
MPH, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/
Elmhurst.
Councilman Shekar Krishnan, who represents
Jackson Heights and Elmhurst,
shared warm wishes for those who
celebrate.
“I send my warmest wishes to everyone
celebrating this Lunar New Year, the start
of the Year of the Tiger, across Elmhurst,
Jackson Heights and the entire city,”
Krishnan said. “Th e Tiger, brave, strong
and confi dent, is the perfect symbol of our
Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other
Asian communities in New York City, as
well as the frontline workers of Elmhurst
Hospital. I wish you and your families
happiness, good health and good fortune.”
Queens District Attorney Melinda
Katz said the Lunar New Year celebration
marks a hopeful season of renewal,
transformation and opportunity for Asian
American families across Queens.
“As we collectively overcome the challenges
of a pandemic recovery, I join
Elmhurst Hospital in honoring the
vibrancy of the AAPI community’s new
year’s traditions,” Katz said. “May the Year
of the Tiger bring peace, success and good
health to all celebrating.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng sent
her warm wishes to all those celebrating
Lunar New Year at Elmhurst Hospital,
and across the borough.
“In Congress, I am continuing to sponsor
legislation that seeks to recognize
the cultural and historical signifi cance
of the holiday, and I will also be introducing
another new bill for Lunar New
Year soon,” Meng said. “I’m proud to
have fought for the creation of the Lunar
New Year school holiday here in New
York City. May you fi nd good fortune,
prosperity and success in the year ahead.
Th ank you, Elmhurst Hospital, for the
outstanding work that your team continues
to do each and every day for our
communities.”
Courtesy of Elmhurst Hospital
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