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N: This morning, New York State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat flipped a switch in the Empire State Building lobby.
TAPE: Uno, dos, tres … (sound of switch and people clapping).
N: Actually, that was just a model building, but at dusk tonight, the real tower will light up, and the colors will remain until Sunday night. February 27th is the 162nd anniversary of the Dominican Republic's independence from Haiti. Espaillat says marking it with colors on top of New York's tallest building is important for the Dominican community.
TAPE: Espaillat: The skyline of New York City will be illuminated with the colors of the Dominican flag and this is a special event for all of us, close to a million Dominicans, New Yorkers of Dominican descent that are here in New York City.
N: Empire State Building electrical foreman Jake Nouel says he changed the colored lights on the building 134 times last year, but it's the first time that the colors have celebrated his ethnic background.
TAPE: Nouel: I feel great. It represents my heritage, and it was an honor doing it.
N: During the entire month of February, Dominicans celebrate Carnaval, which usually includes the national holiday. The Dominican Republic's Consul General in New York, Francisco Fernandez, says people on the island dress up in colorful costumes with sequins, horns and masks, and they dance in the streets.
TAPE: Fernandez: There's a huge masquerade, we color it symbolizing all kinds of devils and creatures and all that, naturally combined with our autochtonous music, you know, music from the origin of our country.
N: In New York City, Dominicans will celebrate February 27 in private. There's no big parade, because they say it's too cold outside. I'm Zaidee Stavely, Columbia Radio News.