With whirring song and popping colors, the Chinese New Year commenced like a brilliant carnival at the Boys & Girls Club of Carson Valley on Monday.Though the Year of the Snake officially starts Sunday, Valley resident and cultural educator Sonia Carlson was more than willing to share the festivities a week early with 50 club members at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School.“We want this tradition passed down to the younger generations,” Carlson said. “A little diversity in the community.”Carlson grew up in the Fujian Province of southeastern China and immigrated to the U.S. in 1987. For 13 years, she has presented cultural …