Laurel District Association


by Lease Wong and Ada Chan



Holiday Santa’s Stroll in the Laurel (left to right): Fred Price Jr. (Skyline High), Jennifer Zhai (American Indian Public Charter School), Lease Wong, Kirk Prentiss, Lauren Prentiss (Resident Elf), Maureen Dorsey, David Randolph (Skyline High), DJ

Click to enlarge.

' The Laurel District Association's Annual Chinese New Year Celebration, Saturday, February 16, 2008 from 12 noon to 3 p.m.'

The Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut Lion Dancers will roar into the Laurel District welcoming in the Year of the Rat, beginning at Komodo Toys, 4004 MacArthur Blvd. The Lion Dancers will go from business to business throughout the Laurel to be "fed," while chasing away bad spirits and bringing blessings and prosperity to the business district and the entire community for the upcoming New Year.

The lion dance is an extension of Chinese martial arts. Come and see the martial artists from the Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu Academy demonstrate their Kung Fu strength, coordination, flexibility, and skill in the stances and acrobatics of the lion dance.'

The Chinese Lion Dance, which brings good luck and wards off evil spirits, has been part of Chinese culture for over a thousand years and is celebrating its tenth year in the Laurel. '

Regular participants in the Annual Chinese New Year Festivities include Lucky Donuts and Bakery, #1 Chicken and Seafood, Komodo Toys, House of Produce, Ace Hardware, Mizaan, Laurel Book Store, Yummie Fast Food, Happy Garden, DJ's Martial Arts, Laurel Jujitsu, State Farm Insurance, Oakland Veterinary Hospital, Lucky Supermarket, Citibank, Seagull Market, L & L Nails, Gerardo's Taqueria, Lan's Hair Style & Nail Care, Showin' Out Hair Gallery, Laurel 99, Farmer Joe's, LaFranchi's Market, Glenn's Hot Dogs, Electronic Service, World Ground Café, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Raymond's Framing, Phnom Penh, Elegant Styling Salon, and Councilmember Jean Quan's Office (Local Heroes Awards).


Holiday Santa's Stroll in the Laurel
' The Laurel District Association proudly sponsored our Annual Holiday Santa's Stroll on Saturday, December 15, 2007. We were particularly proud this year, as the District hired local students from the neighborhood to perform as Santa's Soldjah Boyz and a Girl. These young men and women had to audition and compete for their positions. After many practices and a dress rehearsal, our dancing Santas flawlessly performed the popular Soldjah Boy dance (the current day version of the Electric Slide) all along the Boulevard and in various businesses. Santa's Soldjah Boyz and a Girl Dancing Team: Fred Price, Jr. (Skyline High School), Jennifer Zhai (American Indian Public Charter School), David Randolph (Skyline High School), C.J. Randolph (Bret Harte Middle School). Congratulations! We're so proud of you.
' The District would also like to thank Kirk Prentiss, our jolly, joyful, and most authentic-looking 2007 local strolling Santa, who took more than 200 free Polaroid pictures with so many children, customers, merchants, and employees; his wife, Amy; and his daughter, Lauren, an enthusiastic elf. Special thanks to Ace Hardware and staff for providing Santa's North Pole Picture Station and to Maureen Dorsey, Oakland Veterinary Hospital, and Lease Wong, Komodo Toys, for organizing the event.


Laurel District Association is pleased to introduce its new Executive Director, Ada Chan. '

Ada lives in the Laurel and brings over 20 years experience in community and economic development. Ada can be contacted at laureldistrictassociation\@yahoo.com.