Boston Orange 波士頓菊子: 麻州希莉州長偕第一夫人喬安娜聯袂點亮州政府大樓聖誕樹（附視頻）

麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey)和第一夫人喬安娜（Joanna Lydgate）在現場
和2名小朋友合影，藉以彰顯聖誕節闔家歡慶氣氛。（周菊子攝）

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)踏入12月的第一天，麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）攜同第一夫人喬安娜（Joanna Lydgate），聖誕老人，小朋友，一起點亮了州政府大樓前的聖誕樹，大聲地說“感恩所有人”，為這邁向新一年的重要月份來臨祈禱。

奚莉州長希望，不論人們各自信仰為何，在這年節假日，都能一同祝禱今年有個和平與愛的節假日。

麻州財政廳廳長Deb Goldberg(左二起）和副州長Kim Driscoll，州長奚莉（Maura healey)
，第一夫人喬安娜（Joanna Lydgate）和聖誕老人，Lynn市公校合唱團合影。（周菊子攝）

奚莉州長說，麻州是個很棒的州，優點很多，但最棒的是人。過去這250年以來，慷慨大方又善良的人們，一直互相扶持，就像她前一陣子到麻州西部，親身參與了上百人的43英里徒步行盛事，這麼多人發揮大愛精神，不辭辛苦，長途跋涉，都是為了要幫食物銀行籌款，以期有充足資源，可以幫助有需要的人。

今年還是麻州眾議會新鮮人的麻州眾議員馬惠美（Amy Mah Sangiolo)
也來和聖誕老人合影。（周菊子攝）

奚莉州長也趁著這節假日，向遠在他鄉異地服役，保家衛國的軍人們，護守地方的警察藉遊騎兵們，以及為民眾服務的民選官員們致敬，感謝他們讓人們生活安定。

麻州州政府大樓前的聖誕樹，12月1日點亮。（周菊子攝）

今年在州政府大樓的慶祝聖誕，亮燈儀式，規模比第一年小了不少，包括Lynn市公校合唱團團員在內，頂多也只100多人排排站開在州政府大樓前，整個慶祝活動，象徵意義大於實質慶祝。

麻州副州長Kim Driscoll，財政廳廳長Deb Goldberg，以及麻州眾議員馬惠美(Amy Mah Sangiolo)等人，倒是都共襄盛舉來到和聖誕老人合個影。

州政府大樓二樓大堂（Great hall）內，也請來麻州的花農，菜農與漁農等擺出一張張的桌子，請人們試嚐新鮮蔬菜，薑汁茶，小紅蘿蔔（radish），來自四個不同漁家捕獲的生蠔，麻州中部Grey Log農場展示雞蛋、西西里毛茛、皇家棕櫚火雞、納瓦荷-丘羅綿羊和索艾羊肉製品等等，另一家農場展示蔓越莓，讓城市人感染了一點農家味道。

Governor Healey Lights State House Tree, Celebrating the Spirit of Giving and Community

On the first day of December, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, accompanied by First Lady Joanna Lydgate, Santa Claus, and local children, lit the Christmas tree in front of the State House. Exclaiming "Gratitude to all," she offered prayers for the arrival of this pivotal month leading into the new year.

Governor Healey expressed her hope that, regardless of individual faith, everyone can join together during this holiday season to pray for peace and love.

Governor Healey remarked that while Massachusetts is a great state with many virtues, its greatest asset is its people. For the past 250 years, she noted, generous and kind residents have supported one another. She highlighted a recent example from Western Massachusetts, where she joined hundreds of people on a 43-mile walk. These participants demonstrated immense love and resilience, enduring the long trek to raise funds for the Food Bank, ensuring sufficient resources to help those in need.

Taking the opportunity of the holiday season, Governor Healey also paid tribute to military personnel serving overseas to protect the country, the police and rangers guarding our local communities, and elected officials serving the public, thanking them for maintaining stability in people's lives.

This year’s Christmas celebration and lighting ceremony at the State House was notably smaller in scale compared to the first yearof the Healey-Driscoll Administration. Including members of the Lynn Public Schools choir, there were at most just over 100 people gathered in front of the State House. The event felt more symbolic than a large-scale celebration.

However, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, Treasurer Deb Goldberg, and State Representative Amy Mah Sangiolo were present to join the festivities and take photos with Santa Claus.

Inside the Great Hall on the second floor, the event showcased Massachusetts agriculture. Flower, vegetable, and seafood farmers set up tables inviting attendees to taste fresh vegetables, ginger tea, radishes, and oysters from four different fisheries. Central Massachusetts’s Grey Log Farm displayed eggs, Sicilian Buttercups, Royal Palm turkeys, Navajo-Churro sheep, and Soay sheep products, while another farm showcased cranberries, bringing a taste of rural life to the city.