8/22/04
August Moon Shines Bright Over Quincy
By Mary Timm Gomes
This article appeared in the August 22, 2004 issue of The Patriot Ledger
QUINCY - Christina Lam, a senior at North Quincy High School, is the first generation in her Asian family to have been born in the United States.
Yesterday, she put her dual heritage to use at the August Moon Festival at President Plaza on Quincy Avenue. Working at a booth, she coordinated about 60 high school-age volunteers whose bilingual abilities helped the festival run smoothly.
‘‘What's great is that it's not Asian-targeted,'' Lam said about the festival. ‘‘It promotes diversity, sharing our culture so everyone gets a piece of it.''
President Plaza was transformed into an outdoor pedestrian mall with more than 60 tents sponsored by merchants and local organizations.
Thousands of people attended the 17th annual festival. It appeared to be a record turnout, said Ken An, a board member of Quincy Asian Resources Inc., which coordinated the event.
By 1 p.m. yesterday, An said, coordinators thought attendance had already surpassed last year's record of 3,000 to 4,000. He credited sponsors' effort to invite the entire community.
‘‘I give a lot of credit to The Patriot Ledger for drawing many non-Asians,'' An said.
An, 34, who lives in Braintree with his wife, Liann, and his 2-year-old daughter, Katherine, does volunteer work in his former hometown for Quincy Asian Resources.
‘‘I believe our family was one of the first five Asian families in Quincy,'' An said.
He recalls only one other Asian child in his class when he attended Squantum Elementary and Atlantic Middle schools.
‘‘This event is important with many Asians moving to Quincy and many not really assimilating, so the community is not really integrated. Events like this help bring us together,'' An said. ‘‘The more we know about each other, the better off we all are.''
He said the celebration's increased diversity helps the bottom line for the businesses that participate.
Shortly before performances were to get under way yesterday, Hancock Street was clogged with vehicles, even though police were directing traffic and a shuttle bus was provided to transport people to and from satellite parking areas. Organizers said they will urge festival-goers to use the bus next year.