50 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • MARСH 19, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Richmond Hill’s 32nd Annual Phagwah Parade postponed
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e 32nd Annual Phagwah Parade in
Richmond Hill scheduled for Sunday,
March 22, has been postponed until further
Photo by Josef Pinlac
The 32nd Annual Phagwah Parade in Richmond Hill scheduled for Sunday, March 22 has been postponed until further notice.
notice amid growing concerns about
the coronavirus.
“Th e Organizing Committee of the
32nd Annual Phagwah Parade has been
closely monitoring the cases of COVID-
19 within New York City, and its environs,”
said Herman Singh, co-chair of
the committee. “Today, the members of
the Committee conducted another assessment
of the situation relating to the
spread of the COVID-19 virus and decided
to postpone the Phagwah Parade to a
later date in the year.”
While Phagwah, or Holi, was observed
on March 9, the Richmond Hill community
had planned to celebrate the holiday
later in the month.
Known as the biggest street festival in
Queens, the Phagwah Parade has attracted
large crowds from New York tri-state
communities and beyond over the last 31
years. It has acquired a unique identity
and is regarded as an important event in
the city’s cultural calendar.
Preceded by a parade, the full celebration
at Phil Rizzuto Park is the scene of
the “Festival of Colors” where revelers
douse one another with bright powder,
listen to music, dance and enjoy free food.
“The top priority
of
t h e
committee
is the safety and well-being of
everyone in the community and going
ahead with the parade, as planned, would
jeopardize the health of our supporters
and the entire New York City,” said
Herman Singh, co-chair of the Organizing
Committee. “We urge
everyone to follow the advice of the health
authorities and be safe.”
Young New Yorkers’ Chorus postpones
concert at Jamaica Performing Arts Center
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
In light of the spread of coronavirus,
the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus (YNYC)
postponed its Saturday, March 14, spring
concert at the Jamaica Performing Arts
Center.
Th e Mixed Ensemble, a co-ed group of
about 75 singers, were scheduled to perform
Th e Kings and Queens Night 1 performance,
which explores Queens, the
culturally and linguistically diverse place
on earth.
“We’re devastated not to be able to sing
for you all in the next few weeks, but we
feel it’s important to take this measure
in order to ensure the health and safety
of our membership, volunteers, audience
and respective communities and to minimize
contact with large groups in order
to protect the most vulnerable among us,”
said Alex Canovas, artistic director and
the YNYC Family.
“We’re unendingly grateful to the organizations
we’d partnered with for these
concerts, the Jamaica Performing Arts
Center and the Irondale Center, and look
forward to working with them soon,”
Canovas added.
Refunds are forthcoming for those who
previously purchased tickets to YNYC’s
concerts. Th e organization is also welcoming
donations of any amount to support
YNYC in what will “certainly be a
rocky time for countless arts organizations,”
Canovas said.
“We’re thankful for you, the people
who support us with your ears and your
applause and your hearts. You are the reason
we come together, and you are the
reason we will continue to, once things
Courtesy of Young New Yorkers’ Chorus
have settled. We look forward to singing
for you again as soon as possible,”
Canovas said.
For those interested in making a donation,
visit ynyc.org/support-us.
The Young New Yorkers’ Chorus
/support-us
link
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