星期二, 5月 31, 2016

Boston Public Schools to Host Nine Community Meetings on Water Access in School Facilities

Boston Public Schools to Host Nine Community Meetings on Water Access in School Facilities 
Boston, MA - Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - The Boston Public Schools (BPS) today announced that nine community meetings will be held in the coming weeks to address water access in school facilities. As a proactive, precautionary measure, BPS tested the water in all school facilities with functioning drinking fountains this spring.

"The School Committee felt it was necessary to provide additional in-person opportunities for families to receive information about water access," said Boston School Committee Chairman Michael O'Neill. "We will continue working very closely with BPS to ensure our water policy is a national leader, appropriately so, in protecting our students and staff, while ensuring that all in our schools are receiving
quality water access."

Out of 126 BPS facilities, 38 facilities with working water fountains were tested, and the results have been tripled verified by Boston Public Schools, Boston Water & Sewer Commission and a third-party contractor.

"There is nothing more important than the health and well-being of our students and staff," said Superintendent Tommy Chang. "Boston Public Schools is committed to using a multi-pronged approach to provide data and resources to keep our families well-informed. This entails delivering messages in multiple languages, and through multiple mediums. "

The Boston Public Schools will host a series of community meetings open to the public, as follows:

  • Wednesday, June 1, 6:00 pm, Mather Elementary School
    • 24 Parish Street, Dorchester
  • Wednesday, June 1, 5:00 pm, Another Course to College and Boston Green Academy
    • 20 Warren Street, Brighton
  • Thursday, June 2, 5:30 pm, Kenny Elementary School
    • 19 Oakton Avenue, Dorchester
  • Thursday, June 2, 6:00 pm, Curley K-8 School
    • 493 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain
  • Monday, June 6, 6:30 pm, Murphy K-8 School
    • 1 Worrell Street, Dorchester
  • Tuesday, June 7, 5:00 pm, Trotter School
    • 135 Humboldt Avenue, Dorchester
  • Wednesday, June 8, 5:00 pm, Boston Latin Academy
    • 205 Townsend Street, Dorchester
  • Thursday, June 9, 5:00 pm, Lee K-8 School
    • 155 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester
  • Monday, June 13, 6:00 pm, Hernandez K-8 School
    • 61 School Street, Roxbury

The Boston School Committee is scheduled to vote on the BPS Water Access Policy at its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 8 at 6:00 pm at the Bruce C. Bolling Building, 2300 Washington Street, Roxbury. For more information, visit: bostonpublicschools.org/water and follow @BostonSchools on Twitter and Instagram.

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $500,000 to Amherst’s Hitchcock Center for the Environment


Baker-Polito Administration Awards $500,000 to Amherst’s Hitchcock Center for the Environment

AMHERST - May 31, 2016 - Continuing its commitment to ensuring a sustainable future for Massachusetts, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced the awarding of $500,000 to the Hitchcock Center for the Environment for the construction of its living building project, which is a 9,000 square foot environmental education center that seeks to meet the “Living Building Challenge” standards. Once completed, the new center, which will become a place where students will be taught complex environmental issues, will need to meet performance standards, such as net zero energy and water, over a twelve month period prior to the education center receiving a full certification. Currently, fewer than ten buildings in the world have become fully certified.

“The construction and opening of the new Hitchcock Center for the Environment will have a far reaching impact on Massachusetts, and will serve as an excellent example of leadership in the field of renewable technologies,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to partner with the Hitchcock Center where thousands of students of all ages will learn the tools necessary in creating a more sustainable, Earth friendly environment.”

“The new Hitchcock Center will become an important addition to the City of Amherst, the region, and the state as a whole with one of the most innovative buildings in the world,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “I am excited to know that future students will not only learn about responsible environmental practices, but will witness them firsthand.”

Today’s announcement was preceded by a check presentation event attended by state environmental officials, including Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton and Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Leo Roy. The state officials received a tour of the center, and discussed the future plans of the building with Hitchcock Center’s Board of Directors.

“The Hitchcock Center’s Living Building Project demonstrates excellence in sustainability and will serve as a model for future buildings,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “I am proud of the Baker-Polito Administration’s dedication to ensuring that organizations dedicated to energy efficient innovation have the tools and support they need from the Commonwealth to see their projects come to fruition.”

Aside from achieving net zero energy and water standards, the new Hitchcock Center for the Environment’s building will feature:

·         Rainwater harvesting;
·         Composting restrooms;
·         Four state-of-the-art adaptive classrooms and meeting spaces;
·         A visitor center with live and natural history exhibits;
·         Transparent, interpretive building systems that model and mimic nature;
·         Outdoor courtyards, decks, and picnic areas; and
·         Collaborative work spaces for a growing staff.

“The new Hitchcock Center for the Environment serves as an excellent example of state government working with private partners to support greater environmental awareness efforts,” said DCR Commissioner Leo Roy. “As stewards of over 450,000 acres of public land, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is proud to support the Baker-Polito Administration’s involvement and dedication to the construction of the new center.”

The $500,000 provided by the Baker-Polito Administration was made possible by an Environmental Bond Bill, which also authorized an award of $500,000 in Fiscal Year 2015. Previously, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) provided the center with $330,000 as part of the Pathways to Zero Net Energy Program to help construct the new headquarters.

“DOER is proud to partner with the Hitchcock Center through our Pathways to Zero Net Energy Program to build upon Massachusetts’ proud history of being on the forefront of green and sustainable innovation,” said DOER Commissioner Judith Judson. “The new Hitchcock Center for the Environment will stand as a testament to our shared commitment to ensuring a cleaner, more energy efficient Commonwealth.”

“The generous support we have received from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has allowed us to realize a vision that we thought was a dream just four years ago,” said Julie Johnson, Executive Director, Hitchcock Center for the Environment. “We are grateful for our state leaders who take such bold action to promote greater environmental sustainability and who readily recognize the critical role environmental education plays towards that goal.”

“The Hitchcock Center has served our region for decades as source for environmental education and sustainability.  The construction of the new building with the goal of achieving the Living Building Standards further illustrate our commitment to leading the nation in combating climate change and promoting energy efficiency,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst). 

“It is thrilling that the Commonwealth is going to help make this building happen,” said State Representative Ellen Story (D-Amherst). “It will be one of only a handful like it in the world.”

星期一, 5月 30, 2016

美國洪門致公堂第三十屆懇親在波士頓舉行 僑委會呂元榮道賀

美國洪門致公總堂30屆懇親大
 
全體代表與呂副委員長合照(波士頓僑教中心提供)
前排左起,僑務促進委員張韻蘭、僑務顧問張昆、中華公所主席暨僑務諮詢委員陳家驊、僑委會副委員長呂元榮、祝波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪、僑務顧問郭競儒、僑務委員梅錫銳、僑務促進委員阮鴻燦等人出席「美國洪門致公總堂第30屆懇親大會」開幕典禮(波士頓僑教中心提供)
(波士頓訊)28日上午中華民國僑務委員會呂副委員長元榮出席由駐處賴處長銘琪宴請之早餐會,參加僑領有中華公所主席陳諮詢委員家驊等30多人。會中呂副委員長致詞表示感謝僑領們對中心的支持與愛護,獲得在場僑界人士掌聲與支持。

大會致贈僑委會紀念牌。(波士頓僑教中心提供)
中午呂副委員長出席洪門致公總堂懇親大會會場受到該總堂總顧問伍煥鵬總監堂李柱燊、總理梅犖生、陳競石,波士頓洪門致公堂監堂阮振強、李厚鵬主席及伍柏和等元老熱烈握手歡迎。會中宣讀委員長賀詞,接著由大會致贈僑委會紀念牌,以示感謝呂副委員長的親自到訪參與。下午2時參加由安良工商會主辦歡迎洪門年會代表午宴,下午4時,呂副委員長參訪紐英崙中華公所及其內僑委會所贊助之圖書館並與公所陳主席家驊及該公所李董事奇舜等30餘位僑領會談及交換意見並致贈僑委會禮品。


晚間7時,呂副委員長由中華公所陳主席陪同前往該堂公宴的帝苑酒樓,呂副委員長向總堂及個分堂所有代表及此間各僑團僑領致意,並藉此機會再一次代表吳委員長特別感謝美國洪門致公總堂及洪門致公堂在美國地區協助僑委會推動各項僑務工作的貢獻,表示敬意與感謝。並賀洪門致公堂懇親大會順利圓滿成功。






昭倫總監督,洪門副盟長謝仲安高歌勝利雙手創


(謝中之提供)
5/27,星期五晚,唐人街龍鳯,洪副盟公所總監督「天仲安,在中公所及眾僑團讌請各地代表蒞臨波士出席洪第三十屆懇親中,以正洪亮之南音,演唱「」。(謝中之提供)