Noah and Emma Top Social Security’s List of Most Popular Baby Names for 2014

Noah and Emma Top Social Security’s List of

Most Popular Baby Names for 2014

Agency Adds to Its Family with New Blog

Emma and Noah are America’s most popular baby names for 2014.  Emma returns to the top spot she held in 2008 and hangs out in first place with Noah.  There are a few new names in the top 10 this year—James (a former #1 from the ‘40s and ‘50s) on the blue side and Charlotte on the pink side, her first time ever in the top 10.  Makes you wonder if the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge got a sneak peak at the list, since naming their baby girl Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte (which lands at #10) Elizabeth (which fell from the top 10 to #14) Diana (#297) of Cambridge.  Social Security has a new addition this year too, Social Security Matters, the agency’s newborn interactive blog located at http://blog.socialsecurity.gov.

Here are the top 10 boys and girls names for 2014:

            Boys: 1)  Noah                                  Girls:   1)  Emma

                       2)  Liam                                               2)  Olivia

                        3)  Mason                                           3)  Sophia

                        4)  Jacob                                              4)  Isabella

                        5)  William                                          5)  Ava

                        6)  Ethan                                             6)  Mia

                        7)  Michael                                          7)  Emily

                        8)  Alexander                                       8)  Abigail

                        9)  James                                             9)  Madison

                        10) Daniel                                           10) Charlotte

For all the top baby names of 2014, go to Social Security’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov.

Social Security Matters, the agency’s new bundle of joy, launches as we celebrate 80 years of serving the American public, and is an addition to our communications family where people can find information on retirement, disability, Supplemental Security Income, online services, and much more.  It also is a place where the public can engage in conversations with the agency about what matters most.  The blog encourages discussion and offers important solutions.  Much like being a new parent, making benefit decisions can be overwhelming.  The blog is the latest in a long line of tools Social Security offers to help educate the public about their benefits and how to access agency services.

The birth of a child is a special time for families. While having fun with the baby names list, Acting Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin encourages everyone to visit the agency’s website and create a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov.  my Social Security is a personalized online account that people can use beginning in their working years and continuing throughout the time they receive Social Security benefits. 

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries can have instant access to their benefit verification letter, payment history, and complete earnings record by establishing a my Social Security account.  Beneficiaries also can change their address, start or change direct deposit information, and print a replacement SSA-1099 online.

Individuals age 18 and older who are not receiving benefits can also sign up for a my Social Security account to get their personalized online Social Security Statement.  The online Statement provides workers with secure and convenient access to their Social Security earnings and benefit information, and estimates of future benefits they can use to plan for their retirement.

The agency began compiling the baby name list in 1997, with names dating to back to 1880. At the time of a child’s birth, parents supply the name to the agency when applying for a child’s Social Security card, thus making Social Security America’s source for the most popular baby names.

Each year, the list reveals the effect of pop-culture on naming trends.  This year’s winners for biggest jump in popularity in the Top 1,000 are Aranza and Bode. 

Aranza jumped an amazing 3,625 spots on the girls’ side to number 607, from number 4,232 in 2013. The Latin soap opera “Siempre Mi Amore” was aired on Univision from 2013 to 2015.  The show featured a young lead character named Aranza, and obviously had its effect on naming trends last year.

Bode raced ahead 645 spots, from number 1,428 in 2013 to number 783 in 2014.  This might have had something to do with the Winter Olympics in early 2014, where Bode Miller continued his outstanding alpine skiing career by collecting his sixth Olympic medal.  Not only is he the most successful male American alpine skier of all time, he is considered by many to be an American hero.

  

The second fastest riser for boys was Axl, a nod to both rock legend Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses and Axl Jack Duhamel, son of Stacy Ann “Fergie” Ferguson and Josh Duhamel.  For girls, Montserrat, the lead character in a very popular Latin soap opera, was number two, joined by another Monserrat (spelled just one letter differently) at number three.  

Visit www.socialsecurity.gov to view the entire list.

Falchuk: Senate must debate bi-partisan amendment on Olympics

Falchuk: Senate must debate bi-partisan amendment on Olympics

BOSTON – Following the news that Republican Senator Bob Hedlund (R-Weymouth) and Democratic Senator Michael Moore (D-Milbury) had filed the language of the United Independent Party’s "Act for a Private Sector Funded Olympics" in the Massachusetts Senate, UIP chairman, Evan Falchuk, called on the Senate to debate the measure this week as it takes up amendments to the budget.

"Only weeks after the House rejected this measure, and with billions of dollars at risk, it is up to the Senate to protect taxpayers,” said Falchuk.  “Taxpayers should be grateful for the leadership of Senators Hedlund and Moore, and should call their state senator and give him or her a simple message: debate this amendment.”

Evan Falchuk ran for Massachusetts governor in 2014. He is the founder and chairman of the state’s new United Independent Party, and is pursuing a statewide vote on “An Act for a Private Sector Funded Olympics,” which would bar the use of taxpayer money to support the proposed Boston 2024 Olympic Games.

SyncopAsian made it to the Sing That Thing! Finale 5/22

From Liz Cheng

SyncopAsian made it to the Sing That Thing! Finale - Tune in or DVR this Friday at 8-9 PM on WGBH... SyncopAsian made it to the Sing That Thing! Finale - Tune in or DVR this Friday at 8-9 PM on WGBH 2. Although MIT is known more for science than singing, these Asian and Asian-American students know how to harmonize their way to the finale.  Tune in for these future Nobel Prize Winners as they try to charm their way to the top! PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS and FAMILY!  Watch past episodes on line at  Sing That Thing!

MA House Budget Includes Investments for Malden

House Budget Includes Investments for Malden
Rep. Ultrino secures money for community garden, education
BOSTON – Malden State Representative Steve Ultrino joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass its FY16 budget which emphasizes economic growth through investments in multiple areas including education and local aid, reform to the state’s transportation system, and an acute focus on improving behavioral health services. Before passing its final budget, the House approved several amendments offered by Representative Ultrino that invest in the City of Malden.
The $38.05 billion spending bill highlights the House’s ongoing commitment to fiscal prudence and targeted investments, a practice that has resulted in Massachusetts retaining its AA+ bond rating, the highest in the state’s history. The budget includes no new taxes or fees and reduces its reliance on one time revenue sources. For the first time since 2007, it does not withdraw any funds from the Commonwealth’s stabilization fund, leaving the balance in excess of $1 billion.
The final House budget also incorporates amendments offered by Representative Ultrino, including $35,000 for a community garden and an additional $550,000 for the state’s expanded learning time (ELT) grant, which supports the Salemwood and Ferryway schools, as well as other schools throughout the state.
“I am pleased that this budget incorporated much-needed funding for Malden,” said Representative Ultrino. “These investments will help our community grow for years to come.”
“Representative Ultrino was instrumental in securing additional funding for the ELT grant, which had been cut earlier in the process,” said Susan Lovelace, the Massachusetts State Director for the National Center on Time & Learning. “Malden was the first city to adopt an expanded learning time program under this grant, and the schools have seen tremendous results with this investment.”
“The expanded learning time grant has proven very beneficial to Malden Public Schools,” said Malden Superintendent David Derousi. “We reached out to Rep. Ultrino when this funding was cut, and we have been able to get some of that money back.”
The FY16 budget now moves on to the Massachusetts Senate. 

麻州華裔民代再添一人 朱新生宣誓就任Weston鎮康娛委員

波士頓華裔參政又添一人。華裔眼科醫師朱新生，昨（十八）日宣誓就任衛斯頓鎮（Weston）康娛局（Recreation Commission）委員，成為該鎮首名華裔鎮委員。

            衛斯頓是個成立於1713年的麻州小鎮。根據美國人口統計局2013年估計， 該鎮人口僅11,538，其中亞裔佔10.7%，華裔佔5.3%，約606人。平均家庭收入在三十一萬八千元左右，是麻州最富裕小鎮之一。

            朱新生1997年來美，在摩頓市住過約十年，2010年搬到牛頓市，2014年三月再搬進衛斯頓市。月前，同鎮華人討論支持華裔參選學校委員會委員，他發現康娛局有職位空缺，但直到投票前三天，才確定要參選，並發起填寫參選（write in）的競選活動，竟順利當選， 成為康娛局六名委員之一，將負責審核該鎮康娛局主任聘僱，鎮內社區中心，游泳池，公園的十餘個康娛設施，他本人和當地華人都高興非常。

            朱新生表示，雖然康娛局委員是個無給職，也不如共只有三席的鎮委員（selectman），共有五席的學校委員會委員，以及財務委員會委員來得份量重，但將給他機會，熟悉政府運作，為將來的競選鎮委員，甚至州議員鋪路。           

        朱新生在中國江蘇出生，廈門大學畢業，獲有北京大學生物碩士學位，1997年來美國後，在威斯康新州麥迪遜大學取得生理學博士學位，到哈佛大學附屬的麻省總醫院（MGH）做了兩年博士後，覺得這領域前途有限，決定轉行，進新英格蘭驗光學院，趕在廿七個月內修得學位，成為可以診療眼睛疾病，開藥，只是不能動手術的視光醫師，如今在華埠的華人經濟發展協會大樓，以及牛頓市各開有一間診所。

        由於眼科醫師這種職業，一旦沒病人，就沒收入，進帳不穩定。朱新生為改善家計，還在朋友協助下做房地產投資，擁有三十多套房子，最近還設立了一個麻省華人房東的微信群，和房東們互通訊息。

            他透露，這次能夠經由海選（write in）方式當選，微信群有不小幫助。他搬到衛斯頓鎮之後，在鎮上華人圈中發起了每月至少“鍋樂（pot luck）“一次的活動，鄰居民熟了後，建成一個已有百來人的衛斯頓鎮家長微信群，彼此互動頻繁。由於當房東，他還建了個麻省華人房東微信群，已有群友307人。這次臨時決定參選，他就把自己的姓名英文寫法，應填寫在選票上的哪個位置，拍成照片，發到微信群，呼籲支持。

        不過，衛斯頓鎮的康娛局，本來是委員三年一任，每年改選兩人，但今年有一名委員席位臨時出缺，因而選票上出現兩個康娛局投票欄，一個是選任期三年的二名委員，一個是選任期二年的遞補委員。結果好幾人填錯欄了。好在二年任期的席位，並無正式候選人，以海選方式參與角逐的，只有兩人，另一人只得十二票，共得廿二票的朱新生，順利當選。

        朱新生坦言，從中國來美迄今，眼見整個大環境發生許多變化，但諸如加州的SCA5案，麻州的亞裔控訴哈佛等案件，都讓他深深覺得，亞裔仍如“啞裔”，一直備受壓抑，必須有人挺身參政，為亞裔發聲。本來他是打算等自己的時間能安排得更好時，再來參選鎮議員，但是見到鎮委員出缺，認為是打從政基礎的好機會，這才決定走出了踏進政壇的第一步。

圖片說明：

            朱新生昨日到鎮政府宣誓就任。（冀海英攝）

麻州眾議員陳德基籌款 老同學支持

麻州眾議員陳德基日前在“The Four’s“餐廳，舉辦籌款會。雖然今年不是州議員競選年，仍有六、七十人出席。

陳德基表示，做為每兩年就得辦一次連任競選的民意代表，這樣的籌款餐會，既有籌款，厚實財庫作用，更重要的是和選民，支持者親切晤談，暸解民情。

根據麻州競選與政治財務辦公室（OCPF）的紀錄，截至2014年年底止，陳德基的財庫結餘為$69,979.74，達到歷年來的最高點。

陳德基透露，2011年剛就任為麻州眾議員時，因為自己的亞裔身份，逢有亞裔社團邀請，他幾乎都會出席，真是各地奔波。今年起，他決定在自己參與的五個州議會小組委員會活動之外，花更多時間在昆市上，歡迎轄區內居民隨時找他。

陳德基今年是麻州社區發展及小企業聯席委員會的副主席。他參與的州議會小組委員會包括聯席籌款委員會（Ways and Means），聯席消費者保護及專業牌照委員會，聯席電信、電力及能源委員會，眾議會籌款委員會。

陳德基辦籌款餐會這天，昆士市長柯奇（Tom Koch）也正好在辦啟動競選連任聚會。陳德基的老上司，現為諾福克郡地方檢察官的莫里塞（Michael Morrissey）表示，活動撞期純屬意外。陳德基也說，在這情況下，當天仍有六，七十人出席，他很欣慰。

當天出席者有不少前昆市居民，包括在聯邦政府工作的鄧春美，曾經在昆市開餐廳的張榮財，蔡金燕，也有不少昆市居民，包括德國城老人屋居民林德夫婦，陳德基的昆市亞協服務中心老友，鄒毅，李振儀，以及陳德基的多年好友雷甜美等人。

圖片說明：

            右起，鄒毅，李振儀，陳處瑜，鄧春美，蔡金燕，Paula Clarke，張榮財等人，出席陳德基的籌款會，以示支持。（菊子攝）

            目前在聯邦政府工作的鄧春美（右）和陳德基是新英格蘭法律學院的同學。（菊子攝）

波市長簽署有薪家長假條款 目前僅1200名市府員工獲益

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）昨（十八）日揮筆，波士頓市府的首個“有薪家長假（Paid Parental Leave）”，即起生效。

該條例由波士頓市議員吳弭（Michelle Wu），麥卡錫（Tim McCarthy），提多傑克遜（Tito Jackson）提案，適用於波士頓市政府一萬七千名員工中的大約一千兩百名非工會員工。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊表示，將促使工會在與市府協商下一年度合約時，也把“有薪家長假”納入合約條文。

該條例生效後，波士頓市府非工會員工，凡任職滿一年以上者，無論男女，或同性配偶，可享有最多六週的“有薪家長假”

波市府表示，以前的家長假政策，諸如醫療假法（Medical Leave Act），以及麻州的家長假法（Massachusetts Parental Leave Act），重點都放在當家長放無薪假時，保護家長的工作崗位。但在家長假期間不支薪，也是造成男女工資差距的原因之一。

波市長簽署通過的“有薪家長假”，將容許市府員工在小孩出生，或者領養小孩的第一年中，最多申請放假六週，但不可附加於不支薪，保護工作崗位的時段。

波市府表示，波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）在擔任州議員期間，就提出了四月份時通過的，1972年版麻州產假法更新案，改名為麻州家長假法，以因應該法首度適用於男士，女士及男同性配偶。

         麻州總檢察官奚莉（Murau Healey)也在上週表示，將比照波市，讓總檢察官辦公室的約525名員工，也享有同樣的有薪家長假。
         波市府工會員工近日表達強調意願，希望也享有這一福利。

圖片說明：

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊簽署“有薪家長假法”。提案議員之一的吳弭（前右二）抱著兒子出席。（菊子攝）

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（右）抱起吳弭（左）的兒子逗弄。（菊子攝）

MAYOR WALSH SIGNS BOSTON'S FIRST EVER PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY 

BOSTON - Monday, May 18, 2015—Mayor Martin J. Walsh today signed an ordinance establishing paid parental leave for City of Boston employees, Boston's first-ever Paid Parental Leave policy. The ordinance, which was proposed by Councilors Michelle Wu, Tim McCarthy and Tito Jackson, allows for up to six weeks of Paid Parental Leave to both men and women, as well as same-sex couples, who have worked for the City for at least one year.

"I would like to thank the Council for working with the Administration to pass this important step forward for working families," said Mayor Walsh. "This is not only the right thing to do but it is important to the vitality and economy of our city. The benefits of this policy to both individuals and organization are a win-win and it is my hope that businesses will follow our lead and extend this benefit to their employees."

Previous parental leave policies, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and Massachusetts Parental Leave Act, have focused on protecting parents' jobs during unpaid leave. The lack of income during periods of parental leave is a factor in the wage gap experienced by many women, and forces employees to return to work sooner than their particular family may really need with their newborn or newly adopted child.

Mayor Walsh is proud to have worked with the Council to adopt a Paid Parental Leave policy that features:

• Up to 6 weeks of Paid Parental Leave to be taken by day or week any time during the first year after the birth or adoption of the child or children.
• Applies to all exempt employees, both male and female, who have worked for the City for a minimum of one year, including same-sex couples, and employees covered by collective bargaining agreements whose agreements explicitly provide for this benefit.
• Applies for each instance of eligible employees' birth of newborns,adoption, surrogacy or other methods, and stillbirths.
• Cannot be added to periods of unpaid, job-protected leave and, therefore, runs concurrently.

Pay during a parental leave shall be structured as follows: 100-percent for the first 2 weeks; 75-percent for weeks 3 and 4; and 50-percent for weeks 5 and 6.

As a State Representative, Mayor Walsh was the lead sponsor of the legislation that went into effect this past April, which updated the former Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act of 1972, renaming it the Massachusetts Parental Leave Act and codified that it would be available for men, women and male same-sex couples for the first time.