By Julianne Mcshane
Coney Island
A big congratulation to the district manager of Coney Island’s Community Board 13, Eddie Mark, on his marriage last month to Anna Zhao, who teaches Mandarin to middle and high school students at Newark Academy in the distant land of New Jersey.
The pair tied the knot in front of more than 190 family and friends on March 9 at Pacific Palace, on 55th Street at Eighth Avenue in Sunset Park, after just six months of dating. The ceremony was chock-full of cultural traditions from the duo’s shared Chinese heritage, including a traditional tea ceremony and a nine-course Chinese feast, Mark said.
After meeting through mutual friends, the lovebirds had their first date on Deno’s Wonder Wheel in the People’s Playground last September, during the last fireworks display of the summer season, according to Mark. The groom popped the question on the Wonder Wheel just two months later, on Zhao’s birthday, and the couple promptly began planning the details of their marriage, the groom said.
Mark added that the whirlwind romance came as a complete surprise, and that he and his new bride look forward to starting their own family soon.
“If someone told me in August 2018 that I would fall in love, be engaged, and get married in the next six months, I would have told them they were crazy,” he said. “We are excited in seeing what the future holds for the both of us. We would like to start a family and pass down our culture and traditions.”
Standing O wishes the couple an eternity of health and happiness together. — Julianne McShane
Williamsburg
He stole the show!
Three cheers to Williamsburg child actor Jose Antonio Carrera, who won the Best Young Actor award for a short film at the fourth annual Young Entertainer Awards in California on April 7.
Carrera, 15, won the award for his part in the short “Swinging into Action” at the ceremony at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, beating more than 13,000 other entries, along with more than 50 other winners in categories, such as film, television, theatre, voice over, and the web.
The pint-sized thespian, also known as JAC, was born in Kings County and knew from the age of 4 that he wanted to be a performer.
After taking part in a movie called for “A Precious Life,” the Williamsburger took his career full force at 11-years-old and starred in the film he garnered the award for, as well as the web series “Facts of Life.”
He just wrapped up his latest indie film directed by his mother, called “Keep on Believing,” and is working on several projects.
The youngster will set an example for future performers to come, according to the awards organization’s leader.
“Nominees like JAC are setting the standard for the new upcoming young performers in the entertainment industry,” said Alitzah Wiener-Dallas. “It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 13,000 entries we received this year.”
— Kevin Duggan
