麻州長宣佈下週是情人節週

麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）昨（十三）日宣佈，下週是“情人節週”，希望藉此刺激大波士頓被幾場歷史性大雪攪亂的商家生意。             查理貝克和麻州住宅及經濟發展長艾許（Jay Ash），以及本地企業東主一起宣佈，二月十四日到廿一日，是全州性的“情人節週”。             查理貝克說，下星期，麻州政府鼓勵所有人在本地消費，以幫助商家彌補過去幾週以來，因為飛機航班取消，積雪阻路，交通不便等因素所承受的經濟損失。 Governor Baker Announces Valentine’s Day Week to Boost Local Business BOSTON – Today at the State House, Governor Charlie Baker announced that due to the unprecedented snowfall and historic winter conditions impacting the Commonwealth’s economy, next week shall be declared “Valentine’s Week” to boost business for local retailers, restaurants and small businesses.  Joined by Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash and local business owners, the Governor signed an official proclamation declaring  “Valentine’s Week” will be recognized statewide from February 14th-February 21st to promote patronage to stimulate the economy despite the difficult winter weather that has reduced traveling and restricted business. “I am pleased to declare ‘Valentine’s Week’ for the Commonwealth to sweeten up the local economy and encourage more business at our local shops in the spirit of this holiday,” said Governor Baker.  “The unprecedented snowfall impacting the Commonwealth has taken a toll on everyone, especially the retailers, restaurants, and small businesses that depend on an uptick in reservations and activity around Valentine’s Day.  Next week, we urge everyone to do their part to shop locally and make up for the past few weeks of limited travel and business as a result of all the recent snow.” “Valentine’s Day is not only a day to show our appreciation for others, but it also an important holiday for many businesses that rely on deliveries, purchases and reservations to keep their doors open and make payroll,” said Lt. Governor Polito.  “Next week, we urge people across the Commonwealth to visit their downtowns and local retailers to pick out flowers, candy or something special for your valentine.” Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito and Secretary Ash declared that February 14th through February 21st will be recognized as “Valentine’s Week” throughout the state at a press conference with Jon Hurst, President of Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Bob Lutz, President of the Mass Restaurant Association, and Dave Andelman, President of the Mass Restaurant and Business Association. Text of Proclamation: Whereas the recent, unprecedented snow fall has taken a tremendous toll on the retailers and restaurants in local cities and towns across the Commonwealth; and Whereas access and travel to businesses has been difficult for both patrons and workers; and Whereas Saturday, February 14 is officially Valentine’s day, a day when many purchases and reservations are traditionally made; and Whereas the people of the Commonwealth are generous and caring; and Whereas the spirit of Valentine’s Day is the expression of kindness, friendship and support and need not be limited to just one day Now, Therefore, I, Charles D. Baker, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim the week of February 14 to February 21 to be VALENTINE’S WEEK And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to participate fittingly in its existence by extending the spirit of Valentine’s Day through the entire week by visiting and supporting local retailers, restaurants, and small and family businesses. Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this thirteenth day of February, in the year two thousand and fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

波士頓僑團籲麻州政要支持台灣加入“跨太平洋夥伴協定”

繼「新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會」(TCCNE)及「波士頓台灣同鄉聯誼會」(TBAB)於日前分別由許欽俊會長及林展輝會長領銜簽署，其他理事及會員連署的方式，致函麻州Baker州長、Warren及Markey兩位聯邦參議員，及Neal、Keating和Kennedy三位對台友好的聯邦眾議員後，「紐英倫中華專業人員協會」(NEACP)亦本著支持台灣故土的心情，於12日由周萬欽會長、董事會王世輝董事長，及其他董事、會員連署致函該等政要，籲請他們支持台灣加入「跨太平洋夥伴協定」(Trans-Pacific Partnership, TPP)。

TPP是一橫跨太平洋兩岸，由包括美、日在內12個主要國家正如火如荼談判中的自由貿易協定(FTA)，談判預計在2015年底將獲致協議。根據已公諸於世的相關資訊，TPP的自由化水準頗高，將超越目前一般的FTA，會員國彼此間除將撤除大部分的貿易及投資障礙，還將調合彼此間影響貿易及投資的國內法規，例如環保、勞工保護及智財權等，甚至連改革國營事業都列入談判。一旦TPP成形，將是全球最大、影響力舉足輕重的FTA，除有助會員國及該區域的整體經濟、貿易和投資成長外，會員國間的經濟體制也將進一步整合。

馬總統領導的執政當局已多次對外宣示加入TPP的決心，並同步接洽TPP現有的12個成員國政府，希望他們能正視台灣在太平洋地區的重要經貿地位，支持台灣加入TPP的談判。美國是TPP舉足輕重的會員，對其他會員具有一定的影響力，廣泛爭取美國各界的支持，正是台灣嘗試突破的各項努力之一。而在美的台灣僑界一向支持台灣不遺餘力，也多希望助政府突破國際上的困難局面，樂見台灣參與國際社會。以上三個僑團分別於信中指出台美2013年的雙邊貿易額達636億美元，台灣是美國在全球排名第12大的貿易夥伴(2014年更挺進至第10名)，且是亞太地區第10大的經濟體，台灣倘能加入TPP，不僅有益美國等12個TPP的成員，也有利整個亞太區域的穩定發展。此外，台灣是麻州在亞洲排名第4大的出口市場，台灣在麻州的投資已超過7億美元，創造上千個工作機會，台美間透過TPP進一步開放貿易及投資，對麻州的出口及創造就業有利。而且台灣有決心能符合TPP全面而高標準的開放水準，請麻州政要支持台灣。

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES TWO CONTESTS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT FAIR HOUSING IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES TWO CONTESTS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT FAIR HOUSING IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

Boston – Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced two contests, hosted by the Office of Fair Housing and Equity, to raise awareness about fair housing. An art contest calls for young Bostonians grades 1-12, to submit art work depicting the theme, “Boston opening doors for all.” The second contest, the Fair Housing Landlord Award, will recognize landlords and housing providers who not only provide safe, healthy housing, but who also provide housing that is affordable and accessible to all. Winners of the contests will be announced in April, which is Fair Housing month.

"There is no place for discrimination of any kind here in the City of Boston. This contest, in addition to a number of efforts lead by the Office of Fair Housing will help raise awareness for those who are in need of assistance. Boston is open to all, and it is important that we spread the word.”

“We believe that every month is Fair Housing Month – that is our charge and our mission,” said Dion Irish, Executive Director of the Office of Fair Housing and Equity. “Each April Fair Housing Month is celebrated due to the passage of the Fair Housing Act in April 1968, just days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the rioting that followed.”

Ninety percent of Boston housing was built before 1978 and often contains lead. Families looking for housing in Boston often experience discrimination because of the presence of lead paint, denying families the opportunity to live where they want. While State law requires property owners remove lead hazards from homes occupied or to be occupied by children age six and under, landlords are incentivized not to rent to pregnant women and families with children under 6 to avoid lead abatement costs.

Before familial status protection was added to federal laws, over 50% of landlords in the United States refused to rent to families with children. Both the Art Contest and Fair Housing Landlord Award not only educate our youth about the Fair Housing Act, but it also rewards landlords who abide by the law and continue to make Boston a welcoming city for all.

Applicants for the Art Contest must meet the following criteria: 

• Student lives in Boston,  grades 1-12
• Submission must be received between January 16th and March 1st
• Submission must depict theme “Opening Doors for All” in the art work

The public online voting period will begin on March 2nd until April 1st. For more information regarding competition guidelines, visit: www.cityofboston.gov/fairhousing/. Winners will receive prizes.

Applicants for the Landlord Award must meet the following criteria: 

• Nomination may be submitted by tenants, tenant organizations, community groups, and housing providers viawww.cityofboston.gov/fairhousing/
• Nominations will be accepted from February 1st until March 13th, 2015. Self-nominations are accepted
• Nomination must consist of a statement, not more than one type written page or 300 words, stating why the nominee should be recognized 

 For more details on both contests, please visitwww.cityofboston.gov/fairhousing.

“麻州挑戰”走向國際化 倫敦，以色列，波士頓三地齊推創業孵化

從麻州起步，現已成為全世界最大創業孵化器的“麻州挑戰（MassChallenge)”，十一日正式展開今年的接受申請程序，首度在波士頓，以色列，英國等三地同時進行，將發出總額一百五十萬元的獎助金。

麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）應邀為項目啟動致詞，分享了他個人對爭取進創業孵化器，有如參選“美國偶像（American Idol）“，參與就有收穫的看法，以及他個人深有體會，創業也必須具備的“不要怕失敗”這種精神。

他回憶指出，2009年時，他在沒人，沒錢，沒概念自己是否有勝算的情況下，決定參選麻州州長，由於各方面資源有限，競選十五個月，約三萬五千人捐了大約一千一百五十萬元給他，結果還是輸了。他們的競選團隊檢討得失，下一次再參選，結果就贏了。他說創業也是這樣，就是要不怕失敗。

笑談中，查理貝克還指參選麻州州長有意外好處，他因此知道了一百八十度轉型成功Nypro公司很“酷”，創辦人在麻州建了美國第一個俄國文物博物館。

“麻州挑戰”今年有頗大幅度的變動，不但更加強調國際化，宣佈繼以色列之後，倫敦也成立了據點，還將新推出“校友”，國際，以及產業支持者等三個委員會，以期為入駐孵化器的初創企業們，提供更多資源。

“麻州挑戰”另將於三月十日，推出一個新項目“麻州製造（Made＠Massachusetts)”，要以五千平方呎空間，為醫療器材，機械人，移動電子通訊等硬體領域創業者，提供快速製作產品模型的場地，及相關生產資源。

會上，“麻州挑戰”介紹了該機構的新一批員工，包括波士頓據點的新任執行長貝利（Scott Bailey），營運長Des Pieri等人。

Des Pieri表示，國際化是該機構未來工作重點之一。他計劃五年內再另外在十個國際城市設立“麻州挑戰”項目。他也透露，該機構為擴大營運，目前正在招人，有十八個職位空缺。

根據麻州挑戰早簽公佈的資料，兩名創辦人中的Akhil Nigam已離職他去，原任執行長的John Harthorne ，轉任“麻州挑戰”以色列的共同執行主任。

“麻州挑戰”波士頓執行總經理貝利表示，去年他們收到來自五十個國家，以及美國四十個州的一千七百份申請書。其中獲評價最高的一百廿八個創業團隊，獲選來波士頓，進駐位於波士頓碼頭區的該機構總部。今年估計將有二百家創業團隊可在波士頓，倫敦的“麻州挑戰”參加為期四個月的“加速器”項目，分享波士頓地區的一百五十萬元，倫敦地區的五十萬英鎊的獎助金，並免費使用該機構提供的輔導服務，辦公室空間，以及全球關係脈絡。

貝利去年曾應邀赴台灣演講。他坦言去年並無任何來自中港臺的創業團隊申請參加，希望將來這情況會有改變。

”麻州挑戰“的申請起訖日期為二月十日至四月一日。查詢可上  http://masschallenge.org/apply。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker，左）十一日在“麻州挑戰”的波士頓總部敲鑼，象徵該機構今年的創業孵化項目，在波士頓，耶路撒冷，倫敦三地同時起步。（菊子攝)

            麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker，左三）出席“麻州挑戰”2015項目啟動儀式。 （菊子攝)

            麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）透露，他曾被為青少年舉辦機械人設計比賽者邀請，談失敗經驗。（菊子攝)

            麻省理工學院教授，“搜狐“最早投資人之一的愛德華羅伯茲（Ed Roberts）教授也出席了”麻州挑戰“項目啟動式。（菊子攝）

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES DATA-SHARING PARTNERSHIP WITH WAZE AIMED AT IMPROVING TRAFFIC IN BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES DATA-SHARING PARTNERSHIP WITH WAZE AIMED AT IMPROVING TRAFFIC IN BOSTON

BOSTON - Friday, February 13, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced a new data-sharing partnership with Waze, the popular traffic app owned by Google that allows Boston’s drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to check real time traffic conditions on Boston’s streets. The partnership will help improve traffic flow in Boston in two principal ways.  First, the City will be able to share information on expected road closures with the 400,000 users of Waze in Greater Boston, helping them find the best way to get around town.  Second, aggregated information on traffic reported by Waze users will be shared with the City's Traffic Management Center (TMC).  This helps the City engineers adjust our 550 signalized intersections across the City, so that traffic can flow better.

"Over the past few weeks, it has become clear how critical it is to find innovative ways to improve traffic flow in the City of Boston," said Mayor Walsh. "I thank Google for their partnership in providing us with another way to use data to better improve how City government works." 

Data from Waze is already being used to augment information available from hundreds of intersection cameras citywide and inform traffic signal timing decisions by the City’s Traffic Management Center (TMC).  

“This partnership will help engineers in the TMC respond to traffic jams, accidents and road hazards quicker”, said Boston Transportation Department Commissioner Gina Fiandaca.  “And, looking forward, the Waze data will support us in implementing - and measuring the results of - new congestion management strategies.”

This spring, the City will pilot several different approaches, such as working with the MBTA to evaluate traffic signal prioritization and its effectiveness along key MBTA routes. The City receives aggregated traffic speed data from the over 400,000 Waze users in the greater Boston area, which will allow it to measure before and after impacts on traffic speeds along targeted corridors

The City’s partnership with Waze and efforts lead by the Boston Transportation Department is supported by Mayor Walsh’s Citywide Analytics Team. First announced in his recent State of the City address, this team collaborates with City departments to find insights from data that can improve service delivery for Boston residents.

羅德島大學孔子學院慶羊年 中國歌舞美不勝收

羅德島大學孔子學院二月八日晚在該校金士頓校區愛德華（Edwards） 禮堂舉辦2015羊年春節聯歡晚會，和中文領航項目、中國學生學者聯誼會、中國文化俱樂部等單位合作演出，以一整晚的精彩節目，讓數百名觀眾熱情洋溢，渾忘屋外寒冬正隆。

中國駐美國紐約總領事館領事張揚、於國新、羅德島州克蘭斯頓市（Cranston）市長馮偉杰（Allen Fung）、羅德島州華人協會會長吳子平、理事長葉超、羅德島大學文理學院院長Winnie Brownell博士、羅德島大學孔子學院院長兼中文領航項目主任何文潮博士都出席了晚會，並分別上台致辭，向羅德島大學師生送上新年祝福，稱許羅德島大學孔子學院過去一年的工作表現。

會上還播放了中國駐美國紐約總領事館章啟月總領事的新年問候視頻。

            當晚的表演節目由粉墨藝術團領銜，另有數支波士頓地區的專業藝術團體，以歌曲、舞蹈、京劇、樂器演奏等多樣化表演形式、讓觀眾大讚精彩，目不暇給了一整晚。

            最近十分流行的“小蘋果”舞蹈是當晚的開幕舞，由文化俱樂部的小朋友們，穿著一身豔紅上場演出，一瞬間就哄熱了場中氣氛。

接下來的不同風格舞蹈，包括藏舞《溜溜的康定、溜溜的情》；獨舞《草原的姑娘》，現代舞《花樣年華》，《月狐》，古典舞《詠荷》，全都讓人感到賞心悅目。其中《花樣年華》的舞者穿著旗袍，在台上婀娜多姿、搖曳曼妙的舞動，十分引人。

粉墨藝術團當晚演出一段選自“白蛇傳”的古典舞劇，揉和了東西方古典舞與現代舞等不同風格。

余吉娜表演的藝術體操，以勁爆火辣，動感十足的高難度動作、超柔韌肢體、強烈韻律，把台下觀眾感染得都青春洋溢起來，紛紛報以熱烈掌聲和歡呼，掀起了一股晚會高潮。

            當晚的歌唱節目，也很有特色。王慶的一曲《父親的草原、母親的河》，張婉哲的《蘆花》，音色之美，都讓觀眾稱讚。他們兩人還合唱一曲“敖包相會”，把觀眾帶進美麗大草原，感受敖包愛情。

            樂器部分，有兩名小朋友吹長笛，演奏《梁祝》和《金蛇狂舞》，他們還笛聲此起彼落得鬥吹了一段，頗為精彩。

國粹京劇《三家店》、《霸王別姬》的表演，無論是那一身絢麗奪目的彩妝，獨特的唱腔，和身形步法，也都令人叫絕的讓現場觀眾大開眼界。

群舞《百花爭艷》是當晚的壓軸表演。舞者宛似朵朵鮮花，迎春怒放，讓人

吹散了寒冬冷意，像征著新的一年，春色滿園，萬像更新，為晚會畫上了圓滿的句號。演出結束後，不少觀眾依舊興致盎然，紛紛上台與演員合影留念。

羅德島大學孔子學院周靂表示，這場新春晚會節目豐富，水準也高，四名當主持的羅德島大學中文領航項目學生，個個發音標準，也展現了羅德島大學中文教學的成果。

圖片說明：

            嘉賓及部分演出人員合影。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

            百花爭豔舞蹈。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

羅德島州克蘭斯頓市（Cranston）市長馮偉杰(Allen Fung)。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

中國駐美國紐約總領事館領事張揚。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

歌曲《敖包相會》。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

舞蹈《月狐》。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

舞劇《康定情歌》。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

開場舞《小蘋果》。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

            四名主持人。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

舞蹈《花樣年華》。（圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）