BCNC獲公民銀行捐款二萬五

公民銀行（Citizens Bank）的“協助公民管理金錢”計畫，最近捐款兩萬五千元，支持波士頓華埠社區中心（BCNC）的“打造更好生活（Build a Better Life）”。

波士頓華埠社區中心的“打造更好生活”項目，旨在以傳授財務知識，協助低收入家庭闢出新路，在經濟上自給自足，包括教授製作家庭預算技巧，講解財務責任等，也為波士頓及昆士市的企業家提供各種額外支援。

波士頓華埠社區中心表示，許多低收入移民家庭面對學習新語言，文化，不熟悉新環境中金融機構營運方式及作業程序的挑戰。該中心因此設計了“打造更好生活”項目，舉辦財務健康，信用，教育，職業諮詢，以及獲取更高教育機會等不同內容的講座，幫助新移民掌握管理個人及家庭財務技能，改善生活。

圖片說明：

            公民銀行新英格蘭地區公共事務資深副總裁Rick Musiol (右)把二萬五千元的支票，交給波士頓華埠社區中心行政主任李龍華。（圖由波士頓華埠社區中心提供）

Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito Memorial Day Statements

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito issued the following statements to commemorate Memorial Day:

“We gather with loved ones this weekend in honor of our fallen heroes who courageously, and beyond shadow of doubt, made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the freedoms and liberty we hold so dear,” said Governor Baker. “Our communities, our Commonwealth and our country will always remain indebted for the devotion and bravery of our servicemembers and their families.  Today, I urge everyone to find your own way to recognize Memorial Day, whether attending a ceremony, marching in a parade or spending time with family, to honor the fallen and celebrate the incredible men and women serving our great nation.”

“Today, we remember our brave men and women in uniform, and their families, for their service and sacrifice to this country,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “While Memorial Day offers a unique chance for our communities to join together and celebrate our incredible servicemembers, let us never forget to honor those who selflessly devoted their lives to protect our homeland.”

In honor of Memorial Day, Governor Baker has ordered that the United States flag and the Commonwealth flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until noon and full staff from noon until sunset on Monday, May 25th, 2015. The order applies to the main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, other state-owned or state-controlled buildings and all state military installations.

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT WITH RADIOSHACK OVER THE SALE OF CUSTOMER DATA

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT WITH RADIOSHACK OVER THE SALE OF CUSTOMER DATA

Multistate Agreement Protects Consumer Privacy in Connection With RadioShack Bankruptcy

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey joined a coalition of states in announcing a settlement with RadioShack which will limit it from transferring certain customer data in connection with the company’s federal bankruptcy court proceedings. 

As a result of their opposition to the sale of data from millions of consumers, AG Healey, along with 37 other states, filed an agreement that will prevent its new owner, General Wireless Operations, Inc., from gaining access to any sensitive information, such as credit or debit card information, social security numbers, telephone numbers or dates of birth.

“Millions of customers provided their personal information to this business with the promise of limited use and safekeeping, and should be able to trust representations made to them in privacy policies,” AG Healey said. “We are pleased that the new operators of RadioShack will respect the promises previously made to these customers regarding their personally identifiable information.”

Yesterday, the federal bankruptcy court in Delaware approved General Wireless to purchase RadioShack’s entire e-commerce business, intellectual property, and remaining assets, which include certain customer data significantly limited by this settlement.

General Wireless will be permitted to retain only the email and postal mailing addresses previously given by RadioShack customers requesting product information. Out of the 8.5 million customer email addresses in RadioShack’s files, the agreement limits the number of email addresses to those obtained during the past two years. Impacted customers will be provided the opportunity to opt out before their email addresses are transferred, and will be sent an email notifying them of this right.

General Wireless will continue to employ approximately 10,000 former RadioShack employees and operate more than 1,700 RadioShack stores nationwide. Under the terms of the settlement, any customer receiving postal mail from the new RadioShack will also be able to opt out of future communications from the company. Additional information regarding customer opt-out will be available on RadioShack’s website.

Out of the 117 million customer files originally available for sale, no more than 67 million will be purchased by General Wireless and the rest will be destroyed by RadioShack. Importantly, General Wireless will be prohibited from selling or sharing any customer information it has purchased in the future with any other entity, including its new co-branded business partner, Sprint Communications.

This matter was handled for Massachusetts by Assistant Attorney General Francesca L. Miceli of AG Healey’s Consumer Protection Division

波士頓廣場旗海飄揚 紀念美國國殤日

波士頓廣場（Boston Common）廿一日插了滿滿37000面美國國旗，向美國革命戰爭以來所有的隕落士兵們致敬，讓迎接“國殤紀念日”的人們，無法不感受到戰爭帶給人的失落，傷痛。

每年五月的最後一個星期一是美國的國殤日（Memorial Day）。又稱美國陣亡將士紀念日的這國殤日，今年落在五月廿五日。

麻州軍事英雄基金（Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund）先於廿一日在波士頓廣場舉辦了一場追思紀念會，請得麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker），波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）致詞，也在簡單隆重的儀式中，大聲朗讀出每一名殞落軍人的姓名，聊表心意。

從2001年的911 恐怖份子襲擊美國，紐約世貿大樓被飛機炸塌以來，麻州共有219名軍人在各個戰場喪生。

            這一紀念活動，共動用了六百名義工，花了整整兩天時間，來插這些旗幟。主辦單位表示，這些旗幟將在波士頓廣場一直飄揚到週一晚上，供民眾憑悼。

          

圖片說明：

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）在波士頓廣場的士兵及水手紀念碑（ Soldiers and Sailors Monument）旁，為紀念殞命軍人致詞。（圖由波士頓市市長辦公室提供）

波士頓廣場插滿一幅幅美國國旗。（圖由麻州州長辦公室提供）

麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）在致詞時指出，他就住在Swampscott鎮的一座紀念碑旁，那兒也紀念著從內戰以來的殞命軍人。（圖由麻州州長辦公室提供）

羅德島華人協會頒獎學金鼓勵十七名學子

羅德島華人協會五月十八日晚在中國飯店頒發獎學金，一口氣發出二萬三千元，鼓勵十七名學子深造，服務社區。

羅德島州副州長麥基（Daniel J. McKee），克蘭斯頓市市長馮偉杰（Allan Fung）當晚應邀致詞，稱許這些學子在勤奮學習之餘，不忘服務社區，精神可嘉，也為美好未來奠下良好基礎。

馮偉杰提醒學生們，他們的成就和父母，家庭的支持不無關係，領得獎學金，邁向人生另一階段，將來學而有成後，不要忘了自己的中國文化傳統，更要記得羅德島州，羅德島華人協會，回來服務的回饋社區，把大家庭互相扶持的精神傳承下去。

羅德島華人協會獎學金委員會主席，羅德島大學教授楊慶表示，連辦兩年後，該會這頒給每名得獎者一千元至三千元不等獎額，強調申請學生須有心學習中國文化，致力服務社區的獎學金，在社區間已小有知名度。今年這第三年，申請者大增。

支持辦理獎學金項目的路加慈善基金會因此慷慨決定增撥款項，該會頒給獎學金的人數，也從第一年的九人，一躍增至今年的十七人。

楊慶指出，評審委員會正式開會四次，模仿國家自然科學基金會評審全美研究獎的程序和方式，嚴格評審每一個申請，不但審閱文件，看學生們在社區中所表現的領導力，參與度及貢獻，在學校的SAT/ACT, GPA等學業成績，老師的推薦信，諸如體育，藝術，音樂方面的課外活動表現，更考量學生們熱愛中國語言，文化及傳統的程度等。

今年申請獎學金的學生們，幾乎個個表現優異，評審們在”亞洲燒烤（Asia Grill）“餐廳開過多次正式評審會議，還親自面試申請學生，才一致通過，發獎學金給羅德島州及麻州南部的十七名學生。

獎學金委員會副主席，強森威爾士大學國際學生入學許可主任章賢信指出，去年得獎的三名學生，Derick Yang，Jesse Li和Hans Wang，今年不但回來協助籌辦頒獎晚會，還在會場當義工，為出席者端盤送菜，充分表現回饋社區的服務精神，讓人感到十分欣慰。

來自十所高中的十七名羅島華協獎學金得獎者，當晚由曾經在台灣住了十年，能說流利中文的南京士頓高中學生夏妮娜（Nina H. Gardener）代表致詞。東格林威治高中得獎比率最高，有吳明一等五名學生獲獎。馮偉杰市長的克蘭斯頓市，有一名得獎者，Jessica Leung。

羅島華協今年的獎學金評審委員包括該會主席葉超，該會會長吳子平，以及以教授為主的獎學金委員，主席楊慶，副主席章賢信，還有萬寅生，李書紅，沈陽，蕭京建，王曉元，才旭，陳任卓等人。

圖片說明：

            羅德島華人協會獎學金得獎代表夏妮娜（右二）和該會會長吳子平（右起），克蘭斯頓市市長馮偉杰，該會主席葉超在領獎後合影。（菊子攝）

            克蘭斯頓市市長馮偉杰（前中）和十七得獎學生中的出席者合影。（菊子攝）

            羅德島華人協會董事，右起，楊慶，章賢信，才旭，孫琰，周華，吳子平，馮偉杰，葉超，羅春松，饒彬等人為頒發獎學金，還分頭籌備會場佈置。（菊子攝）

中華藝術協會舞蹈班年度演出圓滿 6/27將辦民舞展

紐英崙中華藝術協會舞蹈班(ACAS Dance Studio)日前在屋本市會址舉辦年度演出，三十六名學生以九支中西舞蹈，展現學習成績，家長看著開心，老師表示滿意。

該會下一個大活動將是六月廿七日，在波士頓大學蔡氏表演中心，分別於下午一點半及晚上七點半演出兩場的第廿九屆紐英崙中華民族舞蹈展。

陳玉律透露，這是該會第一次免費贈票的演出，有意到會欣賞者，必須事前索票。大波士頓最近流行起來的微信群，已有不少群友在互相邀約，強調票源緊俏，索票動作要快。

藝協舞蹈班今年有三班學生，分別由陳玉律、馬嘉和李薇薇等三名老師，指導芭雷舞，中國舞的基本、進階，綜合舞步，還學了新疆鈴鼓舞，鳳陽花鼓舞，喜劇芭蕾的Swanilda and Friend，春之舞等。

陳玉律透露，自己酷愛舞蹈，但當年家境拮据，等辛苦存到一筆錢，也已年近廿時，才開始學跳舞，第一支舞就是喜劇芭蕾（Coppelia），至今印象深刻。

陳玉律表示，中國舞和西方舞跳法不同，中國舞注重內涵，西方舞講究張揚，跳躍，但她認為，學好跳芭蕾舞的基本舞步，就中西舞蹈都能跳得好，所以藝協舞蹈班也要求所有學生都先學基本芭蕾舞。

當天的舞蹈節目雖然不多，但每支舞的舞服都色彩豔麗，造型精美，看著就賞心悅目，學員們全都是年紀在十七，八歲以下的小姑娘，更是讓會場青春氣息洋溢。

其中一名家長黃綺，三名女兒，梁嘉嬌，梁嘉妍，梁嘉鴻都先後在藝協的舞蹈班上課。她笑說，學舞都是女兒自動自發的要求，她只負責接送，但看著女兒認真，肯為練舞一大早起床，學會紀律，堅持，還交了不少好朋友，的確很開心，也對送小孩到藝協學舞，家長還得當義工的不成文規定，感到心甘情願得很。

藝協總監陳玉律透露，去冬大雪壓境，會址屋頂也坍塌了，那天還是屋頂終於修好後，第一次能在會址演出。

  

圖片說明：

            紐英崙中華藝術協會舞蹈班全體表演者與老師合影。（菊子攝）

            紐英崙中華藝術協會藝術總監陳玉律說明今年的中華民族舞蹈展，免費送票。（菊子攝）

            老師馬嘉（右起）與家長黃綺笑說，這三名舞者，金彤云，梁嘉妍，金彤宇，長得像姐妹一樣。（菊子攝）

            藝協舞蹈班演出鳳陽花鼓。（菊子攝）

            藝協舞蹈班的舞服都色彩豔麗。（菊子攝）

            藝協舞蹈班表演。（菊子攝）

原漾台灣 5/26 進波士頓華埠

    “原漾台灣”演出海報。（圖由波士頓僑教中心提供）

僑委會舉辦的“台灣傳統周”活動，今年邀國立東華大學原住民民族學院舞團到北美各地巡迴展演“原漾台灣”，訂五月廿六日（週二）晚七點，在波士頓華埠昆士小學禮堂演出，入場免費。

東華大學原住民民族學院舞團這趟來北美巡演，預定在一個月內走訪芝加哥、亞特蘭大、邁阿密、華府、紐約、波士頓、蒙特婁及多倫多等13城市、演出15場，把台灣的精緻民俗文化，軟實力，展現在僑民及主流社會大眾面前。

波士頓華僑文教中心表示，原住民民族學院院長童春發曾說，原民舞團並不是為表演而表演。他們的每一次演出，都是一次文化生命故事的再現。舞蹈者身上穿的那些傳統服飾，跳的舞步，唱的歌聲，都帶有原住民祖先的生命故事，蘊含著豐富文化傳統，細心的人，都會感動很深。

中華頤養院免費早餐講座 5/28

全美亞裔婦女會 6/14舉辦九週年餐舞會

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES FIRST HOUSING PROGRESS REPORT

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES FIRST HOUSING PROGRESS REPORT

Quarterly Update Shows City on Target to Meet Mayor's Housing Goals, Outlines Where Improvement is Needed 

BOSTON - Thursday, May 21, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today publicly released the administration’s first progress report on achieving the housing production goals laid out in his ambitious housing plan, “Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030.” The plan, released in October 2014, called for increased transparency into housing policy, including quarterly releases of data and an end of year Annual Report. This is the first report in that series.

“I am extremely proud of the progress that the City has made in increasing the supply of new housing that will reach the market,” said Mayor Walsh. “But in order to create a thriving, healthy and innovative city, we must work harder to ensure that everyone who wants to live here is able to. This report shows that Boston 2030 is more than just a thoughtful plan; it is a true blueprint for action.”

The City of Boston’s data demonstrates that the City is on target to meet the Mayor's goals of creating 53,000 units of housing by the year 2030. In the first quarter of 2015, 1,187 units of housing were created, bringing the total number of new units of housing created since the inception of the plan to 13,017.  This represents 128 percent of the target production level needed to reach the City's goal of creating 53,000 units by 2030. In addition, another 825 units of housing were approved through the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), bringing the City's total number of units permitted or approved to more than 21,000 units.

This quarter, the City also achieved 121 percent of its target rate for creating 6,500 units of low-income housing by 2030. To encourage continued development of affordable housing, this week Mayor Walsh awarded nearly $39 million to support affordable housing developments in neighborhoods throughout Boston. The funding, which will create or preserve 1,194 housing units, uses $27 million of federal and local resources through the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) and uses $11.7 million in linkage funds through Boston's Neighborhood Housing Trust.

The City reached 88 percent of its quarterly target to reach 20,000 units of middle income housing by 2030, with 551 units created this quarter, and 3,740 units permitted to date. Analysis of the data appears to show an increase in middle income housing creation.  When this quarter’s new housing starts come on the market, projections indicate that nearly half of the units will be affordable to middle income households, in comparison to 26 percent in 2014.  

“Boston is well on its way to achieving the level of production needed to house its growing population,” said Marc Draisen, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). “Middle income housing still remains a challenge, which is why we strongly support Mayor Walsh’s efforts to address barriers related to zoning, permitting and the cost of construction.”

No new units of senior housing were created this quarter; however, the City has permitted 284 new units of low-income senior housing, which is 89 percent of the target rate needed to reach 1,500 units by 2030. The elimination of the Federal 202 program has meant that it has been a year since the last elderly housing project started construction; however, passage of a new line item in Mayor Walsh’s Fiscal Year 2016 City budget would mean that the City can begin to rebuild the senior housing pipeline and to fund new projects again. The City also filed state legislation in January to create a new affordable senior housing program using existing state housing bond bill funds.

Additional data points in the report include:

• Dorm Production. No new undergraduate dorm beds were produced this quarter, while 1,983 have been produced to date. This represents 58 percent of the target rate needed to reach 16,000 beds by 2030; however, 2014 was a record year for dormitory construction completions, with nearly 1,400 new dorm beds coming on line.
• Transit-oriented development. 75 percent of the City’s new housing starts are within a 5 minute walk of major transit.
• Foreclosures. Although the homeowner foreclosure rate has declined, foreclosure filings are rising. This is a statewide phenomenon that the City is investigating, and strategies will are being developed for deployment in Q2 of 2015.  

The entire report can be found here.