metro asian news
Posted July 2, 2008
State Department of Labor Announces Extension of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond commends the Congress and President Bush for their efforts to extend unemployment insurance benefits to jobless Americans.
He said, “The Georgia Department of Labor is preparing to pay extended benefits to workers in Georgia who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. These benefits will become available as soon as the federal government provides the necessary funding.”
“The high price of food and fuel together with escalating layoffs has created a difficult situation for job seekers and their families. It is my hope that these additional resources will help those who qualify bridge the financial gap as they seek new employment,” Thurmond said.
The President signed into law H.R. 2642, the supplemental appropriations bill that provides up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.
Every jobless Georgian who may be eligible for extended benefits will be notified by mail and provided with instructions on how to apply.
New Asian Shopping Center Ground Breaking
An Asian retail shopping mall was officially launched at the corner of Pleasant Hill, Satellite Boulevard, and Old Norcross Road in Gwinnett on June 25. The 431,000 sf shopping mall named Asian Galleria is managed by Asian Centre Development.
Spaces at Asian Galleria are available for sale or lease. Based on released redevelopment plan, the shopping mall have already secured several major anchor tenants on its premise. A major Chinese supermarket named Dong Fang International Supermarket would occupy 100,000 sf in addition to 30,000 sf of an authentic Chinese restaurant.
“We will start the redevelopment work immediately. Asian Galleria will become the leading shopping destination on Pleasant Hill corridor,” said Ly Phillips, senior principal of the Asian Centre Development. Philiips was previously involved with the successful redevelopment conversion and the sale of Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway.
The Asian Galleria announcement came on the heels of several other Asian commercial real estate development in Gwinnett County. Assi Plaza has announced the scheduled opening of its second store on Pleasant Hill in October at the former Wal-Mart site. Another Korean major retailer MegaMart has also announced plans for a 270,000 sf store at the former Macy’s location in Gwinnett Place Mall.
“Amazing Asian Days” At The Center For Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts is pleased to announce three “Amazing Asian Days” as part of an ongoing audience development initiative. Supported in part by a generous local foundation and Asian-American Resources Center in Norcross, the Center for Puppetry Arts will offer discounted tickets to families and group that have never been to the Center on the following days: Saturday, July 5, 19, and August 2.
“Amazing Asian Days” will correspond with the SummerFest 2008-09, featuring performances by award winning puppet companies from around the country. The performances include The Dragon King by Tanglewood Marionettes of Ware, MA on July 5; The Bremen Town Musicians, by Crabgrass Puppet Theater of Halifax, VT on July 19; and Sleeping Beauty, by Paul Mesner Puppets on August 2. All performances are approximately sixty minutes and presented in English. Show times are as follows: June 24 - August 10, 2008 : Tues-Fri @ 10am & 12pm; Sat @ 11am, 1pm & 3pm; Sun @ 1pm & 3pm. For additional information, please visit: www.puppet.org.
Limited free tickets and transportation support is available for qualifying groups—to see if your group qualifies or for questions regarding the Center for Puppetry Arts please contact, Audience Development Manager, Park Cofield at 404.881.5178.
Fall Date Announced For Dragon Boat Festival
The organizer of the 13th Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Atlanta announced this year’s festival will take place on Saturday, September 13th at Lake Lanier’s Clark Bridge Rowing Facility.
The annual festival have several race categories including Open, Female, Mixed, BCS (Breast Cancer Survivors), Collegiate, High School, International, Recreational and Law Firms.
Festival organizer is currently accepting team registration. The registration fee for fielding a dragon boat team is $600.
“The dragon boat festival is a great way for companies or group to learn to work as a team,” said Gene Henratty, lead organizer of the festival.
The annual festival has grown attracted large turnout by fans and dragon boat teams from around the region. Corporations and local organization from metro Atlanta including churches and colleges have actively participated in the festival.
For more information on the festival, visit www.dragonboatatlanta.com
Delta To Reduce Flights To Shanghai
Delta Air Lines Inc. is trimming the number of flights between Atlanta and Shanghai, China during the winter travel season.
The airline launched the daily Atlanta-Shanghai flights March 30 with much fanfare, after receiving approval for the flights last September.
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved Delta’s plan to reduce its non-stop flight service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Shanghai from daily to five times a week.
The change in service will start on Nov. 7, when the airline ends its Wednesday and Friday Atlanta departures. Thursday and Saturday departures from Shanghai will also be eliminated.
Delta will continue to offer daily service between Atlanta and Shanghai during the peak summer travel season and will resume daily non-stop service in May, according to a filing with the FAA.
The airline has hedged much of its economic recovery plans on expanding international service. Delta said in its request to the FAA that it needed scheduling flexibility.
MARTA Prepares For New Gun Law
Nearly 300,000 registered gun owners now have the right to carry their firearms on public transit, into state parks while visiting and into restaurants that serve alcohol. The only caveat - they need a carry permit, which requires a criminal background check.
The new law, along with about 100 others that took effect with the start of the fiscal year July 1, has prompted area transit providers to prepare their customers and staff for the change.
MARTA’s Communications Director Cara Hodgson said in a statement that its police force will strictly enforce all provisions of the new law and that any individual found to be carrying a firearm without a permit will have it confiscated and be issued a citation pursuant to Georgia law. She also said MARTA prohibits its employees, whether licensed or not, from possessing a weapon while on MARTA property.