天使舞蹈團慶新春展舞藝

天使舞蹈團及舞蹈學校日前在衛斯頓市（Weston）的瑞吉斯（Regis）學院舉辦“2014天使舞蹈春節慶祝會“，下午，晚上的兩場演出，精彩紛陳。滿場觀眾散席時，都稱讚好看。

            今年是天使舞蹈團第八次舉辦大型春晚表演，晚上這場不但有知音（Melody）舞蹈團，粉墨藝術團、哈佛大學木蘭舞蹈藝術團、東方舞蹈藝術團、華夏舞蹈藝術團等五個舞蹈團，做特邀表演嘉賓，還有劉培藝爵士樂五重奏首次應邀參加，即興演奏。

            當天下午的這場演出，主要由天使舞蹈團成員、舞蹈學校學生演出，共安排了25個節目。

天使舞蹈團創辦人克可表示，該機構草創之初，人丁單薄，幹勁十足，八年發展下來，如今已成為分別在華森市(Waltham)，勒星頓（Lexington），艾克頓 （Acton），傅萊明罕（Framingham ），沙龍（Sharon），牛頓（ Newton）等六個地點開班組團，共有200多名學生，聘有劉沂峰，關珊兩名專任老師，嚴曉婉，Jocelyn Lu兩名客座老師的機構。老師認真，學生努力，參與地方活動積極，也讓她們在社區打響了名聲。

            2009年十二月，天使舞蹈團還獲邀參加波士頓芭蕾舞蹈團的“市區版胡桃鉗子”，順利演出十二場。

            當天下午的這場演出，有荷花仙子，阿里郎，竹林深處，當代舞蹈“希望”，傣族舞“小斗笠”，藏族舞“桑格花的祝福”，蒙古舞“吉祥筷子“，可愛的小孔雀，古典舞”且吟春雨“，扇子舞”春暖花開“，蒙古舞”藍色高原“，現代舞”彩帶舞“，漢族舞”手絹舞“，新疆鈴鼓舞，藏族舞”康定情歌“，傣族舞”雲之南“，新疆舞，印度舞，古典舞”山水映夢“，壯族舞”走在山水間“，剪紙姑娘，孔雀舞，舞劇敦煌大夢片段的雙人舞，金飛天。

            晚上的演出，由波士頓本地美女白雲主持。和下午不同的演出包括“青花瓷“，新疆舞”花兒為什麼這樣紅“，古典舞劇”粉，墨“片段，芬芳花季，最炫民族風，敦煌大夢片段”夢回飛天“，古點舞”百花爭妍“，傣族舞”雨林溪畔“，我相信等。

            劉培藝爵士樂五重奏樂團以薩克斯風，鋼琴，低音吉他，鼓，吉他等演奏了多首曲子，其中還有一，二首是即興演奏。

            天使舞蹈團今年將有兩次大型演出，一為三月一日，二日及九日，在瑞吉斯學院凱西禮堂再度搬演”大夢敦煌“，一為六月十五日（週日）也在瑞吉斯學院舉行的”全美表演藝術舞蹈比賽“。

            查詢詳情可洽 angeldance.keke@gmail.com，或617-230-3854，www.angelperformingarts.com。

圖片說明：

            演出結束時，司儀白雲（左一）介紹天使舞蹈團創辦人克可（右起），老師官珊， 劉沂峰，嚴曉婉， 劉培藝（左二）爵士樂五重奏等人謝幕。（菊子攝）

            舞蹈老師劉沂峰（左起），司儀白雲、天使舞蹈團創辦人克可，官珊，嚴曉婉等人接受獻花。（菊子攝）       

            劉培藝（右一）爵士樂五重奏是新加的節目。（菊子攝）

            王藐若（前左三）率哈佛大學木蘭舞蹈藝術團團員演出。（菊子攝）

            舞蹈團之一。

             天使舞蹈團在最後一場表演中展現五彩繽紛的色彩，舞姿。（菊子攝）

            天使舞蹈團及嘉賓舞團謝幕。（菊子攝）

華森公寓老人新年聯歡

中華耆英會、聯合健康保險、華森老人公寓等三機構合作，十五日中午攜手舉辦2014 新年午餐聯歡會。耆英們以十項表演節目自娛娛人， 歡渡一午。

            華森老人公寓近年增加不少華裔居民，各有不同才藝，遇上辦活動，內容顯得格外豐富。

這天的表演由楊閔貴菊負責音響， 何少溪統籌節目，耆英們用過午餐後，以王曼英等人的“太極功夫扇”拉開表演序幕。

演出節目還是以唱歌居多，獨唱，合唱，中文歌，英文歌樣樣俱全。其他比較特別的演出，有王曼英等人表演“舒懷劍”，湯雲芳獨唱黃梅調“訪英台”，周維宣表演快板詩。

男生合唱有方正厚等人 ，一口氣唱了三首歌，從“長江之歌”，“喀秋莎”，唱道“大海啊故鄉”，格外有豪邁感。

英文歌合唱有符婉蓉等人唱“雪絨花 ”，“我將來怎麼樣”，“交換舞伴”等曲。

      獨唱的有嚴楊淑雲唱“她的眼睛像月亮”，何少溪唱“我的肯塔基故鄉”，鍾艷萍唱的廣東歌“萬水千山總是情”。

      新年聯歡會最後在楊閔貴菊等人合唱“同一首歌“，“七仙女”，“茉莉花”聲中落幕。

圖片說明：

左起， 華森老人公寓物業管理經理Kurt B. Tommy，耆英會張昆，服務協調員Kathryn Enrici ，李潤蓮, 張宗旭，何少溪，梅麗梨，以及聯合健康保險的社區外展專員張亮。（圖由中華耆英會提供）

施工改善居家能源效率 政府補助高達二千元

亞美社區發展協會(ACDC)日前舉辦節約能源講座，說明政府還未更改政策，翻修住宅的防寒保暖設備，仍有機會節省支出高達二千元。

亞美社區發展協會的外展聯絡員呂嘉媚，日前在講座中以十八張幻燈片，逐步解釋，波士頓市政府和麻州節約(MassSave)，北星電力公司（Nstar)，國家電網（National Grid)，麻州能源（Mass Energy)，下一步生活（Next Step Living)等機構合作，為民眾提供節能保暖設備檢驗，更新服務。還提供補助。

呂嘉媚指出，房屋保暖主要是指防止暖氣從天花板，通風口，地板，外牆，窗戶和門，管道等處流失。下一步生活等機構可派員到府，檢查每棟房屋的絕緣情況如何，再做成報告，請屋主自行考慮是否要採取行動，改善狀況。

她指出，這檢查可幫助屋主了解屋子裏是否有一氧化碳，是否有任何角落或電線，潮濕發霉，哪些地方通風情況不佳，可能危害人體的健康，安全等。

根據她手邊的資料，更新波士頓（Renew Boston）這機構可為民眾解決房屋保暖問題，還提供高達八百元的回贈金（rebate)。其中250元是檢查舊式電線，300元檢查是否有燃燒時釋放出來的廢氣，並做修理，250元是更換乾衣機，抽風器。

凡是住在一至四家庭房屋的住客，或業主，都可申請做檢查，並在做房屋保暖改善工程時，獲得75%，最高二千元的折扣。如果有二至三個家庭一起做房屋保暖的修繕工程，最高可享有90%折扣，每家庭最高可得三千元。這部分優惠只限波士頓居民可享有。

呂嘉媚指出，民眾不必擔心政府的補助款，錢從哪裡來。其實政府早從民眾每月腳交的電費，煤氣費中，扣繳了這些費用。

如果民眾有心做房屋保暖，暖氣系統，熱水系統，太陽能熱水，更換窗戶等節約能源工程，但身邊錢不夠，政府提供零利息貸款，有二千元到二萬五千元，為期七年，以及五百到一千九百九十九元為期兩年的選擇。

查詢詳情，可洽呂嘉媚617-482-2380 內線 #208 和 #212， 或電郵至 chop@asiancdc.org。

圖片說明：

            亞美社區發展協會的外展聯絡員呂嘉媚(左二)是節約能源講座的講者。（菊子攝）

費奇堡市獲四十萬元聯邦補助款辦電子護理經濟

聯邦儲備銀行波士頓分行十五日宣佈，包括費奇堡市（Fitchburg）在內的六個麻州市鎮，共可得一百八十萬元補助款，用以培養地方政府，商家，非牟利機構的長期合作關係，進而振興中等規模城市。

            這是波士頓聯邦儲備銀行第一次推出這種項目，志在尋找打造出符合理想公家領導，以及機構的做法，以俾為州內老舊，在失業率高，學生成就低，貧窮根深蒂固中掙扎的工業城市，找到長期改善辦法。

            如果這做法成功，波士頓聯邦儲備銀行人員希望把它推廣到整個紐英崙去，並為聯邦儲備銀行在全美的其他十一個分行，作為社區發展模範。

            獲得三年補助款的城市為，羅倫斯市（Lawrence）七十萬元，費奇堡市（Fitchburg）四十萬元，霍利奧克（Holyoke）廿五萬元，雀喜市（Chelsea）廿二萬五千元，尚莫維爾市(Somerville)十萬元，塞冷市（Salem)十萬元。

            費奇堡市將獲得四十萬元辦理“電子護理經濟計劃（eCarenomics Initiative）“，利用市府收集的住宅單位及犯罪記錄數據，來把主要鄰里北部，改變成一個居民願意選擇為居住，工作，投資地點的計劃。

尚莫維爾市將獲得十萬元來創辦一個新的，有針對性的，融入移動科技及社交媒體的人力發展系統，藉以減少低收青少年的失業率。

GOVERNOR PATRICK APPOINTS RACHEL KAPRIELIAN AS SECRETARY OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

GOVERNOR PATRICK APPOINTS RACHEL KAPRIELIAN AS SECRETARY OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Commends Secretary Goldstein for strong leadership and results throughout her tenure

BOSTON – Friday, January 17, 2013 – Governor Deval Patrick will today appoint Rachel Kaprielian, the current Registrar of the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), as Secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD). Secretary Joanne F. Goldstein is departing the Administration to accept a job at Northeastern University as an Associate Vice President. The Governor will join Secretary Goldstein and Registrar Kaprielian for the announcement at noon today in Doric Hall at the Massachusetts State House.

Kaprielian brings to her new position the expertise and experience needed to serve the Commonwealth’s workers, job seekers and employers. As Registrar and State Representative, Kaprielian has advocated for smart and consumer-friendly policies, innovative job training initiatives, comprehensive pension reform, municipal and regional organizational reforms, aggressive anti-tobacco policies and Early Intervention programs for at-risk children. As Secretary, she will oversee the Commonwealth’s five labor and workforce agencies: the Departments of Unemployment Assistance, Career Services, Labor Standards, Industrial Accidents, and Labor Relations as well as the quasi-public agency Commonwealth Corporation.

“I sincerely thank Joanne for her four years of dedication and commitment to our workers, job seekers and employers through some of the Commonwealth’s most challenging economic times,” said Governor Patrick. “I am thrilled that Rachel has agreed to take on this new role, and I am confident that she is prepared to continue the difficult work of getting our residents back to work, and preparing both our workers and employers for the jobs of the 21st century economy.”

“I am grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve the public by working towards job creation and economic growth that will benefit Massachusetts residents and businesses. I share Governor Patrick’s commitment to the state’s continuing economic recovery by ensuring that the skills of the Commonwealth’s workforce meet the continuously evolving needs of our employers,” said Kaprielian.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Governor and the Commonwealth for the past four years," said Secretary Goldstein. "I am proud of our successes on behalf of working families. I want to thank my staff and team for their dedication, hard work and commitment to their constituencies. I look forward to spending time with my family and then moving forward with this exciting professional opportunity. I am forever grateful to the Governor for the opportunity I had to contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of the people of Massachusetts.”

Governor Patrick commends Secretary Goldstein for her leadership in addressing the workforce needs of businesses, providing both labor protections and safe working conditions for workers, and advocating for fair wages across the Commonwealth. Goldstein was appointed as Secretary by Governor Patrick in January 2010. Secretary Goldstein served as chair of the Governor’s Joint Task Force on the Underground Economy and Employee Misclassification where she oversaw the recovery of nearly $39 million owed to the Commonwealth. She also chaired the Municipal Unemployment Insurance (UI) Task Force, which recommended changes for the Unemployment Insurance system to better serve both municipalities and public employees. Goldstein oversaw the transformation of the Workforce Training Fund, which annually distributes up to $21 million to employers so that they can upgrade their workers’ skills, grow jobs and remain regionally and nationally competitive. Over the past several months, Secretary Goldstein has also overseen the launch of UI Online, a modern, web-based system that replaces Massachusetts’ outdated and fragmented UI computer system.

Secretary Goldstein has spent her entire career as a labor attorney and dedicated public servant. She has been an advocate and voice for working families, and has successfully balanced the economic concerns of business with the interests of working people.

Governor Patrick appointed Rachel Kaprielian as Registrar of the RMV in 2008. During her tenure, Kaprielian has overseen the expansion of the Registry's online branch at www.mass.gov/rmv and implemented an innovative customer service plan to minimize the impact on customer traffic by working with sister transportation agencies, municipalities and local delegations to build new branches in rent-free public spaces. Prior to serving as Registrar, Kaprielian represented Watertown and parts of Cambridge for 14 years as a state representative.

Throughout her career, Kaprielian has been best known for her keen dedication to constituent services and a strong commitment to tackling quality of life issues for all people who reside in the Commonwealth.  Among her many legislative accomplishments, Kaprielian spearheaded reform efforts which enabled cities and towns to join the state's Group Insurance commission (GIC) to significantly ease the burden of spiraling health insurance costs for all the 351 communities in the state. Her honors and recognitions have included Legislator of the Year from the March of Dimes for her work with special education initiatives; the Legislative Leadership Award from Massachusetts Public Health Association for her tireless public health efforts; her advocacy for Home and Health Care Association of MA, leadership with The Tobacco Free Mass Coalition; her collaboration with the MA Public Health Association and her partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council which named her Legislator of the Year.

Kaprielian earned her Bachelor's Degree from the College of Holy Cross. An attorney, she holds a J.D from Suffolk University Law School as well as a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Governor Patrick created the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development as a cabinet-level position in 2007 in order to best serve the Commonwealth’s job seekers, apprentices, union members, claimants, employers, attorneys and researchers across the Commonwealth.