Governor Baker Statement on Selection as Vice Chairman of the Coalition of Northeast Governors

Governor Baker Statement on Selection as Vice Chairman of the Coalition of Northeast Governors

WASHINGTON, DC – This morning at a meeting of the Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG) Governor Charlie Baker was elected as the group's Vice Chairman.

"I'm honored to have the support of my peers as Vice Chair for the Coalition of Northeast Governors," said Governor Baker. "New England faces many unique challenges, with even greater opportunities to answer them in a meaningful way for the citizens we serve. I look forward to working together with my colleagues to address the availability of energy on the New England grid, the opiate and drug addiction epidemic and all the issues that impact our region."

The Coalition of Northeast Governors met this morning during the National Governors Association weekend in Washington.

"I congratulate and commend Governor Baker on his election as Vice Chair of the Coalition of Northeastern Governors," said Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, Chair of CONEG. "I look forward to working closely with him to bring innovative, bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing our region.

這週末還有大雪 波市長請民眾小心

過去這一個月來的連番風雨，低溫，不但使大波士頓積雪盈尺，道路泥濘，還壓坍了一百多個屋頂，至少導致九人死亡，兩匹馬受傷。

            九名死亡者中，有兩人被鏟雪車撞了，一人在鏟雪時心臟病發，其餘的人則是火災發生時，消防栓已經結冰了，或是風勢太大，消防員根本無法作業，不幸被火吞噬了。

            麻州緊急管理局（FEMA）十九日表示，麻州內至少有108棟樓宇的屋頂坍塌了，或者損壞了。這週末的可能下雨，恐怕會讓更多屋頂遭殃。

            有關單位甚至出動了無人機來勘測屋頂狀況。

            尚莫維爾市（Somerville）就聘請了一家電影公司用無人機來檢查市有大樓的屋頂情況。

            國家氣象局氣象員表示，那些屋頂有二到三尺雪的人家，如果不把雪從屋頂掃掉，一旦氣溫從週末的稍暖降到週一的嚴寒，結成冰時，恐怕屋頂就承受不住那重量了。

            MBTA人員十九日表示，在二百名員工花了一整天，清除JFK/麻州大學，以及北昆士紅線地鐵站的路軌轉換道後，MBTA昨日已恢復了紅線地鐵到北昆士的服務。

            綠線地鐵的B線及E線，也將於昨日恢復服務。地鐵紅線到碧樹（Braintree）站的服務，預定週一恢復服務，麥特潘（Mattapan）的電車（Trolley）預定下週五可以上線服務。

            氣象局預測，一股北極氣流將於週五帶來極冷的氣溫，極高的風速，接著的週末，大波士頓將下雪一至三吋。然後週三，可能還有一場雪，但也可能只是在海上，不會來到陸地。

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）為小心起見，昨日下午發出聲明，提醒市民檢查屋頂狀況，提防和屋頂有關的詐騙，在請人清掃屋頂積雪時，最好查察該公司是否有營業執照，做屋頂工作的證件，有沒買員工賠償保險，一般的責任險，書面的製造商保證，書面的勞工保證等等。。

            波市府也派出了檢查員，協助擁有物業者檢視屋頂是否堆了太多雪，並派發有關屋頂積雪過多可能造成的影響。

            有關鏟雪，除冰資訊，可打電話到檢查服務部 617-635-5300，若是下午四點以後，可打市長的廿四小時熱線電話 617-635-4500。

圖片說明：

            哈佛大學科學中心前的廣場，擺出“坑火”，讓過往行人及學生，享受雪地烤火滋味。（菊子攝）

            哈佛大學科學中心前的廣場，還闢出一個溜冰場，供人免費溜冰。（菊子攝）

            哈佛大學樓宇，也掛出許多冰柱。（菊子攝）

            昨日的查理士河，居然沒有完全結冰，一半是水，一半是冰的，別有一番風情。（菊子攝）

            江澤民曾經演講的哈佛大學山德斯劇院旁的人行道，有了一道雪造的擋泥牆。（菊子攝）

中華耆英會白禮頓樓慶生迎新春

中華耆英會白禮頓樓昨（廿）日舉辦二月份慶生會，向三名耆英祝壽，迎接羊年新春。幾十名耆英享用中式美食，欣賞歌舞，歡度一午。

            二月十九日是羊年新春正月一日。依照中國傳統習俗，昨日應該是回娘家省親的日子，不過人在海外的白禮頓樓耆英們，大都是家人中年紀，輩分最長者，在子女要上班，中午自己過之下，就暫把此處當娘家的到中華耆英會白禮頓樓來和好友寒暄，問候，談笑。

            已高齡八十五歲，住在牛頓市，平日以跑步半小時，飲用蜂蜜咖啡的曹偉倫，這天特地親手做了個喜氣洋洋的大福字，帶到白禮頓樓來給會場添喜氣。

            昨日的慶祝會，由趙令瑜，李正銀主持。白禮頓樓主任梅麗梨祝賀，發生日禮物，請出席耆英們合唱生日快樂歌，請壽星切蛋糕。在梅麗梨穿大紅絲棉襖，屋內掛吉祥如意圖案，門口擺八寶糖果禮盒的鋪排中，會場喜氣十足。

            慶祝會的表演節目有羅予禮，張秀蘭，楊遠清等三人組成的歌唱小組演唱康巴姑娘，雪上阿媽拉；今年七十五歲，來自廣東台山端芬的壽星翁秀玲獨唱祝福，從華森老人公寓來助陣的劉海臣，武國恩以二胡合奏“彩雲追月”，“步步高”，趙令瑜率唱歌班演唱“恭喜恭喜”，“歡樂年年”之後，中華耆英會白禮頓樓全體職員合唱“祝福你“，”新年好歌聯唱“，為慶祝會拉下帷幕。

圖片說明：

            中華耆英會白禮頓樓主任梅麗梨(後左一)，十歲的孫雯，武國恩，曹偉倫，劉海臣等人為三名壽星，梅秀英（前左起），翁秀玲，黃伍妹等人祝壽。（菊子攝）

            中華耆英會白禮頓樓門口擺出鮮花，果盤，增添新年喜氣。（菊子攝）

            壽星翁秀玲（左起），黃伍妹，梅秀英切蛋糕。（中華耆英會提供）

麻州長成立委員會檢驗MBTA

麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）昨（廿）日宣佈，鑑於近日的下雪量破紀錄，MBTA恢復服務困難，長年為財務掙扎，他將新設一個七人委員會，檢視 MBTA 這機構。

            查理貝克說，要解決 MBTA 的問題，先得做診斷，他會讓這委員會進行研究，直到三月底再提建議。

            查理貝克指出，過去已有許多人檢驗過MBTA，所以他們訂出了在三十天左右之內，提交建議的要求。

            他說，“我們不能持續做同樣的事，然後期望有個不同結果”。

            麻州交通廳長普拉克（Stephanie Pollack ）表示，委員會的工作，不是檢驗為什麼 MBTA 在今冬的大雪中癱瘓了，而是要更深入的檢視，找出MBTA營運出問題的真正原因。

            該委員會將檢視 MBTA 這公共交通機關的營運，財務，以及管理，成員包括曾任聯邦航空管理局，麻州高速公路局主管的賈蔚（Jane Garvey），曾任紐約都會交通局主任的賴璞（Katherine Lapp）等。曾任波士頓重建局主任的巴瑞特（Paul Barrett）將擔任主席。

            其他成員包括東北大學副校長Robert P. Gittens，哈佛大學市區計畫及公共政策教授 Jose A. Gomez-Ibanez，麻州港務局航空組首席財務長 Brian McMorrow，以及曾任麻州議會交通委員會共同主席的碧樹（Braintree）市市長蘇利文（Joseph Sullivan）。

            普拉克表示，麻州政府已和營運通勤鐵路的Keolis開過會，但截至週五，他們還未分享恢復服務計畫資訊。

            查理貝克十九日上WGBH電台節目時表示，這星期，他和下屬在MBTA和Keolis的辦公室，花了許多時間，下週還會繼續。

            查理貝克表示，礙於指揮鏈的約定俗成，有關MBTA的資訊，以往他都是從普拉克那兒聽取，之前也一直未見過MBTA總經理史考特（Beverly Scott）。

            上週，MBTA的服務表現引發爭議後，查理貝克才第一次見到史考特，接著史考特就令人驚訝地宣佈辭職了。

        過去這幾天來，麻州議員們紛紛要求政府採取行動。麻州參議會的一個委員會也已安排了MBTA營運狀況的聽證會，邀請了包括史考特，普拉克，麻州財務及行政長Kristine Lepore，以及麻州交通廳（MassDOT）的高級主管做證。

            麻州眾議會議長狄樂歐（Robert A. DeLeo）表示，他們的重點是要防止今冬再發生類似狀況。

2015年僑商青年國際貿易研習會

僑務委員會「2015年僑商青年國際貿易研習會」

一、        活動目的：配合行政院推動全球招商及「新興市場人才培育計畫」，期透過國際貿易專業課程研習以及國內知名企業參訪等活動，系統性的培訓海外僑商青年國際行銷專才，並鼓勵其回到僑居地擴大宣傳臺灣的經貿實力及將臺灣優質產品行銷海外，帶動海外企業投資臺灣產業，促進國內經濟發展。

二、        研習時間：本（2015）年5月4日（星期一）至5月15日（星期五），共12天11夜（5月4日上午報到，5月15日下午賦歸）。

三、        報名日期：即日起至2015年3月15日止。

四、        電子檔請至全球僑商服務網「www.ocbn.org.tw /首頁/最新訊息」下載，並請以正楷填寫或繕打。或恰波士頓華僑文教中心以索取資料617-965-8801, email:ocacbostonlib@gmail.com

Manslaughter Indictment in Crash that Killed Passenger

Manslaughter Indictment in Crash that Killed Passenger

BOSTON, Feb. 20, 2015—A repeat drunk driver has been indicted for manslaughter in the November crash on Enneking Parkway that killed his passenger, 41-year-old Lillian Grover, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A Suffolk County grand jury today indicted JEFFREY MASON (D.O.B. 9/11/72) of Walpole for motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence as a fourth offense, and motor vehicle manslaughter by operating under the influence under Ch. 265, Sect. 13½, popularly known as Melanie’s Law. They move Mason’s case from West Roxbury Municipal Court to Suffolk Superior Court, where it will be adjudicated.  An arraignment date has not yet been set.

State Police assigned to the Milton Barracks responded to Enneking Parkway just north of Turtle Pond Parkway at about 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 15 for a report of a car crash. On arrival, they found a 2003 Honda Accord rolled over onto its roof with the vehicle’s passenger side against a tree. 

Mason had been helped out of the vehicle by passersby.  In spite of the efforts of those good Samaritans and first responders, Grover was pronounced dead at the scene.  Mason was located in the woods nearby; Troopers detected a strong odor of alcohol on Mason’s breath and observed that he had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, prosecutors said.

After he was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, Mason consented to a blood test.  That test indicated that Mason’s blood alcohol content was .168 at the time of the crash.

Though Mason initially told Troopers at the scene that he had lost control of the vehicle when his tire blew out, investigators found all four of the car’s tires intact.  It was later determined that the vehicle was traveling at upwards of 67 miles per hour when he lost control on an area of the roadway with a speed limit of 35.

Mason previously had a drunk driving charge continued without a finding in Chelsea District Court in 1992 and was convicted of the same charge in West Roxbury Municipal Court in 1995 and Quincy District Court in 2006.

Assistant District Attorney Gretchen Sherwood led the grand jury proceedings resulting in today’s indictments.  Jillian Quigley is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.

MAYOR WALSH ISSUES WARNINGS AHEAD OF ADDITIONAL WINTER WEATHER

MAYOR WALSH ISSUES WARNINGS AHEAD OF ADDITIONAL WINTER WEATHER

City inspectors are currently surveying roofs, warns of roofing scams 

BOSTON - Friday, February 20,  2015 - Ahead of additional winter weather, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today warned residents to check their roofs and be cautious of potential roofing scams. 

The latest forecast shows that snow will develop Saturday afternoon and continue through Saturday evening with a few inches of accumulation possible. The snow will likely change to rain Saturday night before ending during the day on Sunday. The amount of rain could potentially exacerbate ongoing roofing problems resulting from deep snow.  Following the weekend's precipitation, another round of bitterly cold air is expected Monday night through Tuesday morning. 

City of Boston inspectors are patrolling Boston neighborhoods warning property owners of potential ice and/or snow hazards.  Inspectors are knocking on doors and informing property owners that their property has been identified as having an excessive amount of snow and/or ice buildup which could create damage and become a serious hazard. Inspectors are also distributing an informational flyer regarding the impact of the excessive snow and/or ice.   

Property owners are asked being asked to: 

·         Safely remove snow from porches and decks

·         Safely remove ice dams from gutters

·         Clear downspouts

·         Check for water stains or moisture in the attic or ceiling walls. 

·         Hire a contractor to remove snow/ice from your roof and all other areas you cannot reach

With the magnitude of roofing issues as a result of the historic amount of snow Boston has received over the past 30 days, the Mayor is also warning residents to be cautious of roofing contractor scams. A legitimate roofing company should be able to provide the following:

• Local references and roofing testimonials 
• Business License 
• Roofing credentials 
• Workers compensation insurance 
• General liability insurance 
• Written manufacturer warranties 
• Written labor warranties

For more information regarding snow removal or ice dams call the Inspectional Services Department at 617-635-5300, or after 4:00 p.m. should contact the Mayors 24 hour hotline at 617-635-4500.