On February 11, 2006 , about four hundred Chinese people from southwest China gathered at Hinsdale Community House to celebrate Chinese New Year. Secretary of State, Jesse White, Downers Grove mayor, Brian Krajewski , and the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, Jinzhong Xu were there to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The community house was decorated with Chinese characters and pictures of dogs since it is the year of the dog according to the Chinese Zodiac. Many people dressed up in traditional Chinese dresses and clothes to celebrate this Chinese holiday. To start the evening of fun, people got served Chinese food, which came straight from a Chinese restaurant. The kids got pizza to eat. After dinner, the guests were entertained with a Chinese music and dance performance. Both kids and adults were performing; the show included Chinese folk songs, dance, piano, violin, and traditional Chinese fashion show. After the show, some people went to dance, some went to play cards, and some went to play a Chinese game called ma jiang . Some kids played video games until it was time to go home, while others danced. This is an experience that everyone will never forget.

Reporters: Emily Lu (4th Grade), and Melissa Li (5th Grade) Photographer: Parents