DIAS KADYRBAYEV SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR IMPEDING THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING INVESTIGATION

 DIAS KADYRBAYEV SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR IMPEDING

THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING INVESTIGATION

 

        BOSTON – Dias Kadyrbayev, 21, a close friend of convicted Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was sentenced today to six years in prison for his role in retrieving, and later disposing of, evidence in the Boston Marathon bombing investigation, specifically Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s backpack, containing fireworks and other items, as well as his role in concealing Tsarnaev’s laptop computer from law enforcement.  Kadyrbayev previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice and obstructing justice with the intent to impede the Boston Marathon bombing investigation. 

 

Kadyrbayev has agreed to be deported to Kazakhstan from the United States after serving his sentence.  At the time of his arrest, Kadyrbayev was in the United States on a revoked student visa while attending the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMass). 

 

“The concealment and destruction of evidence can have profound effects on the course of an investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz.  “Mr. Kadyrbayev knowingly concealed and disposed of critical evidence relating to the Boston Marathon bombing.  He now faces the consequences of those actions – six years in federal prison, with deportation to follow.”

 

On the evening of April 18, 2013, after Kadyrbayev viewed images of the Boston Marathon bombers released to the public, he exchanged text messages with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.  Later that evening, Kadyrbayev, Azamat Tazhayakov and Robel Philipos entered Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s dormitory room at UMass.  Kadyrbayev removed Tsarnaev’s laptop and a backpack containing fireworks, a jar of Vaseline, and a thumb drive.  The fireworks appeared to have been opened and manipulated, and some of the explosive powder appeared to have been removed. 

 

         After returning to their apartment on the evening of April 18, 2013, and during the morning of April 19, 2013, Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov watched television news reports and read Internet news articles about the bombing investigation and the manhunt for the two Boston Marathon bombers, whom they believed were Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev.  During the early morning hours of April 19, 2013, Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov agreed that they should get rid of Tsarnaev’s backpack.  Kadyrbayev placed the backpack and its contents, including the fireworks, into a large black trash bag and threw the entire bag into the garbage dumpster in his apartment complex.  After discarding the backpack in the garbage, Kadyrbayev decided to keep Tsarnaev’s laptop computer and continued to conceal it.  He did not attempt to return it to Tsarnaev’s dormitory room, nor did he notify law enforcement that he had Tsarnaev’s computer.

       

On April 26, 2013, after a two-day search, federal agents found Tsarnaev’s backpack in a New Bedford landfill.  Although it was found, the condition of the backpack and its contents had been altered by the actions of Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov.  

 

In July 2014, Azamat Tazhayakov, 21,  was found guilty by a federal jury in Boston of conspiring to obstruct justice and obstructing justice with the intent to impede the Boston Marathon bombing investigation.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 5, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.  Robel Phillipos, 21, was found guilty in October 2014 of two counts of making false statements to law enforcement in a terrorism investigation, and will also be sentenced on June 5^th at 2:00 p.m.

 

        United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Field Division, made the announcement today.  This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Boston Division and member agencies of the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) which is comprised of more than 30 federal, state and local enforcement agencies.  Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, Massachusetts State Police, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Department of Public Safety, New Bedford Police Department, Dartmouth Police Department, U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Essex County Sheriff’s Office, and Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, provided assistance with this investigation.

       

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys B. Stephanie Siegmann and John A. Capin of Ortiz’s Anti-Terrorism and National Security Unit.

“我的理想學校”繪圖比賽 周珮萱從1200人中脫穎而出

麻州學校樓宇局（MSBA)和麻州財政廳合作的第九屆“我的理想學校”繪畫比賽，日前揭曉結果。阿靈頓鎮(Arlington)皮爾斯（Peirce）小學一年級學生周珮萱（Bethany）在一千二百名參賽者中脫穎而出，成為九名區域冠軍之一。

        麻州財政廳廳長高柏珂（Deborah Goldberg）在頒獎時表示，她不僅是以麻州學校樓宇局主席身份頒發獎項，更從母親角度來看學校建築、設備，將在任內更關心各所學校的樓宇狀況。她強調妥善維護學子的學習環境，才能為麻州更好的培養未來人才。

            七歲的周珮萱，當天在八歲就從香港移民來美的爸爸周振宇，以及越南華僑媽媽鍾麗雲，還有外婆的陪同下，出席領獎。外婆透露，周珮萱從小就喜歡畫畫，家人還為她請了私人繪畫家教。

            在配畫說明中，周珮萱表示，她喜歡藝術教室，因為那兒有很多圖片。她喜歡老師，因為老師們都很友善。皮爾斯是一所好學校，因為有藝術，韻律等不同的特別課程。

            九個區域得獎者分別來自阿靈頓，碧樹（Braintree），衛矛斯（Weymouth），費奇堡（Fitchburg），布瑞姆菲爾德（Brimfield），東陶頓（East Taunton），史溫普斯考特（Swampscott），林（Lynn），伊斯坦（Eastham）等市鎮，都可獲得Santander銀行送出的禮物一份。高柏珂表示，將把這些小朋友的畫作複製鑲筐，掛在她的辦公室內。

圖片說明：

            周珮萱（左二）在爸爸周振宇（左起），學校代表，媽媽鍾麗雲，以及外婆陪同下出席領獎。（菊子攝）

            麻州財政廳廳長高柏珂（後左）和麻州學校樓宇局行政主任Jack McCarthy（後右）頒獎給周珮萱。（菊子攝）

            Santander銀行的副總裁Pat Packard（左三起），資深副總裁Joseph Indorato，代表該行出席活動。（菊子攝）

古兵團指揮官交接 波士頓廣場昨日色彩繽紛

麻州最古老的砲兵團（Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company）昨（一）日在麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）出席監禮的隆重中，依古禮舉行首長改選，讓波士頓廣場瞬間光陰倒轉三百多年。

            根據維基百科，自從五月花號著陸普利茅斯（Plymouth）後，在這片新大陸上定居下來的人，並無有組織的軍隊保護。許多曾經在英國倫敦砲兵團服務過的人，當起志願者，並於1637年組成民兵團。

            這民兵團如今是北美最早，全世界第三早的民兵團，1638年時經麻州議會通過，時任州長的溫卓普（John Winthrop）簽字，才在三月十三日時正式成立。接著的六月一日，民兵們在波士頓廣場舉行了第一次長官選舉，此後六月一日在波士頓廣場辦理選舉，就成了傳統。

            根據維基百科，這承擔著訓練地方民兵責任的兵團，原本名稱為“麻州軍隊（The Military Company of Massachusetts）”，直到1737年時才改名為“古代榮譽砲兵團（Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company）”。

            在美國組成國家軍隊後，這兵團的任務改為保存美國，麻州，以及波士頓的歷史與愛國傳統。如今是麻州州長的榮譽侍衛隊（honor guard）。麻州州長也是該兵團的總司令。

        昨日這民兵團從芬紐廳遊行至波士頓廣場後，以十九響禮砲迎接麻州州長在走入會場，並請他在兵團指揮官陪同下繞場一周的“閱兵”，向穿著各式各樣服裝的民兵團敬禮，再回到主席台，等選舉結果宣布後，恭喜新當選的指揮隊長，勒星頓鎮的Dommenic A. Private等各級長官。

            根據傳統，該團成員是從波士頓中上層社會中挑選，邀請來的，近年還包括來自麻州以外的人選，總數約六百多。

            維基百科指出，在2014年的成員中中，約三分之一是曾經在美國軍隊中服務過的退伍軍人。該團成員在廿世紀末，幾乎清一色是盎格魯薩克遜白人新教徒，最近這十年，才多元化起來。

            包括約翰甘迺迪（JFK）在內，共有四名美國總統曾是該團成員。

            昨日主持儀式的該團秘書表示，從1742年起，該團就以芬紐廳（Faneuil Hall）作為總部，迄今承擔著傳承歷史，為民眾展現當年民兵概況的特殊使命，歡迎民眾探訪。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長查理貝克（左三）在古民兵團指揮官陪同下繞場閱兵。（菊子攝）

            麻州州長查理貝克（右四）與新當選的古民兵團指揮官及其家人合影。陪同下繞場閱兵。（菊子攝）

            來自英國的民兵團。（菊子攝）

            羅德島州新港（Newport）的民兵團，施放古砲致敬。（菊子攝）

            羅德島州新港（Newport）的民兵團，每年都來為麻州民兵團改選助陣，自己也合影一張留念。（菊子攝）

            羅德島州新港（Newport）的民兵團準備響砲 。（菊子攝）

            昆士小學學生們昨日冒雨觀禮。（菊子攝）

波士頓龍舟節63隊參賽破紀錄 華人隊長建微信群交流

 波士頓龍舟節海報。（汪剛柳提供）

(Boston Orange)第三十六屆波士頓龍舟節即將於六月十三，十四日在查理士河畔舉行。波士頓龍舟節組委會昨（一）日宣佈，今年參賽隊伍數破紀錄，有來自美國四州，以及加拿大的共六十三隊參賽。

根據波士頓龍舟節網站所公佈隊伍資料，今年的參賽華人也空前多，包括清華，北大，浙江，中科大，天津及南開聯隊，交大，復旦等，共有七個中國大學校友會組織八隊參賽。

另外還有麻州大學波士頓分校中國學生學者聯合會，東北大學中國學生學者聯合會組織的龍舟隊。

華人青年協會的部分領隊及龍舟隊員。（圖由華人青年協會提供）

在波士頓成立僅數年的華人青年協會（CYPN）往年組織過兩隊參賽，今年一口氣組四隊。該會創辦人吳迪一為協助各參賽隊伍在練習划船時器材及人員上的互通有無，昨日還建了個“龍舟隊長”微信群，一個多小時就邀得近三十名隊長入群。

昨日由於麻州天氣不佳，烏雲密佈，各龍舟隊長為船屋是否開放練習，有無隊員可以出席練習等事，忙得焦頭爛額，微信群一成立，對話數量就立馬逾百。天大南開聯隊隊長還感嘆，指華人青年協會彷如波士頓龍舟賽的黃埔軍校，好多隊長都出自該會。

愛默生學院龍舟隊內唯一的華人隊員，也再輾轉邀約下入了群。

波士頓龍舟賽籌委會成員之一的汪剛柳表示，今年有來自大波士頓地區、紐約、羅德島、南卡羅來那州及加拿大等各地的共六十三個龍舟隊參賽，數量之多，創歷年新高。

六月十三，十四兩日，這些隊伍將在JFK大街和 Western大街之間的查理斯河中激烈角逐。六月十四日（週日）這天是決賽，中午十二點，大會將在劍橋中國文化中心和大波士頓文協的中國鼓和腰鼓舞助陣中舉行點睛儀式，直至下午五點，岸邊將有華林派舞龍舞獅，日式大鼓，孟加拉傳統舞蹈等文娛表演，以及各色小吃。

波士頓龍舟節組委會表示，今年比賽的分組包括，金融組、醫保組、大學組、中國大學校友組、社區組、俱樂部組及女子組，競賽仍設癌症幸存者專賽。贊助單位包括香港經濟貿易辦公室、道富銀行、Harvard Pilgrim Health Care、Ocean Spray、華人醫務中心、Eastern Bank、GPHomestay等。

            查詢波士頓龍舟節詳情，可上網www.bostondragonboat.org，或電洽(617) 259-0286，發電郵pr@bostondragonboat.org。

昆士市 6/13 晚旗幟日遊行 放煙火

The City's annual Flag Day Parade and Celebration, a 64-year annual tradition that has grown into one of the largest of its kind anywhere, is set for Saturday, June 13 with the 7:00 p.m. parade, and the fireworks display launching at about 9:00 p.m.

The parade steps-off on Coddington Street, before making its way to Hancock Street, turning right onto Merrymount Parkway, and ending at the entrance to Pageant Field anchored by the annual parade highlight: nearly 2,000 city young people from groups across the City marching with American flags.

The parade culminates into a celebration at Pageant Field with a flag-raising of an impressive 30' x 60' version of Old Glory, the presentation of the Richard J. Koch Memorial Youth Service Award, and a patriotic performance and sing-a-long.

The evening will be capped off by a spectacular fireworks display over Black's Creek that will kick off roughly around 9:00 p.m

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG AT OLD CITY HALL AND FORMER BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL SITE

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG AT OLD CITY HALL AND FORMER BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL SITE 

 

BOSTON - Monday, June 1, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston will be undertaking an archaeological survey in front of Old City Hall on the former site of the 17th century Boston Latin School and Schoolmaster’s house. 

“It is an exciting moment for the City of Boston to potentially unveil an important part of Boston’s history and a piece of the Freedom Trail,” said Mayor Walsh.

 

City of Boston Archaeologist, Joseph Bagley, will lead his volunteer team in the dig beginning June 2, 2015.  Crews will excavate approximately 10 test trenches measuring 5x.5 meters (16x1.5 feet) throughout the month of June in an attempt to re-locate the foundations and yards of the 17th century Boston Latin School’s Schoolmaster’s house and other later structures. The courtyard of Old City Hall and businesses located within will remain open throughout the 4-week dig.

 

Extensive research prior to the excavations has revealed a complete timeline of the owners and occupants of the Old City Hall courtyard. In 1645, the Boston Free School was built and later renamed the Boston Latin School. While it no longer remains in its original location, Boston Latin is the oldest public school in America. The Schoolhouse was located in an area that is now partially under King’s Chapel and within the courtyard of Old City Hall. At the same time, the City officials allowed the Schoolmaster to live with his family next door. The Schoolmaster’s house may have been built as early as 1639. In the first decade of the 1700s, both the Free School and the Schoolmaster’s houses were re-built on their original foundation locations.

In the 17th century, the courtyard would have contained the Schoolmaster’s house, a stone mansion owned by the wealthy and prominent Cooke family and a portion of the Free School.

  

Notable Graduates who would have taken their admissions test at the Schoolmaster’s house and attended school next door include Cotton Mather (1669), Samuel Adams (1729) and John Hancock (1745), among others.  

 

In 1809, plans to build the Suffolk County Courthouse, where Old City Hall stands today, required the demolition of the standing Schoolmaster’s house.  

 

Archaeologists are hoping to find the foundations of the 17th-19th century Boston Latin Schoolmaster’s house and the yard behind it. If successful, it is likely that they will recover significant amounts of artifacts relating to the seven Schoolmaster’s and their wives and children who lived in the building between 1645 and 1809.  These artifacts would reveal new information on these families and 17th and 18th century Boston. 

 

“What we are really hoping to find is their privy, or outhouse, which would have been where most, if not all, of their household garbage and human waste would have been disposed in," said City Archaeologist, Joe Bagley. "Since archaeologists primarily study trash, their outhouse would be a treasure-trove of historic data. Finding an intact 17th century privy would be the ultimate goal.”

 

The dig was first proposed by Sean McDonnell, President of the Architectural Heritage Foundation (AHF). AHF is a not for profit organization, and, in 1970, preserved the building under a long-term lease with the BRA. AHF intends on improving the landscape of the courtyard and install additional interpretative displays of the building and yard’s history, but what remains under the paved and landscaped surface remains a mystery. 

“We are thrilled to have found someone as enthusiastic about Old City Hall’s courtyard and so able to uncover and tell the story of what else may have happened on the site," said McDonnell. "Everyone in the building takes ownership of Old City Hall’s place in Boston’s history- I think Joe’s work will only add to the building and site’s lustre.”

 

“This is an ideal situation where a property owner understands and appreciates the importance of their archaeology, and takes preemptive measures to involve archaeologists from the inception of a renovation plan to ensure the proper preservation and recording of any archaeological data and to increase the awareness of the history of a place,” said Bagley.

 

The archaeological dig will be staffed by volunteers of the City of Boston’s Archaeology Program, which is part of the Boston Landmark’s Commission. The dig is also incorporating volunteers from the Boston Latin School Alumni Association and current Boston Latin School students.

The public are encouraged to visit the dig, which will be ongoing through the month of June, weekdays from 9AM -5PM, rain or shine, though not during thunderstorms. Progress of the dig can be followed through live updates on the City Archaeology Program and Old City Hall social media pages including facebook at facebook.com/bostonarchaeologyprogram and on twitter @bostonarchaeo.

The City Archaeology Program was established in 1983 to preserve, protect and promote Boston’s archaeological heritage. With hundreds of known archaeological sites documented in Boston spanning nearly 10,000 years of human history, the City Archaeologist and a dedicated team of volunteers work to review development projects, excavate archaeological sites on public land, and manage over 1,000,000 artifacts excavated from dozens of archaeological surveys stored in the City Archaeology Laboratory repository.

 

About the Architectural Heritage Foundation

Founded in 1966 as a not for profit organization with a mission of preserving historic structures at a time when urban renewal was razing large historic portions of cities, AHF has, for 40 years, blended the fields of historic preservation and real estate development, asset management and property management. In 1969 AHF won stewardship of Boston’s Old City Hall, successfully redevelopment the grande dame structure into a thriving restaurant and office building, thereby demonstrating the relevance of adaptive reuse to downtown Boston’s future. AHF continues to manage and maintain Old City Hall, safeguarding its future.Today, AHF is active in both Boston and across the Commonwealth where preservation remains a critical component of economic revitalization.

MassDOT to Motorists: Plan Ahead for I-93 Restrictions through Boston Complete Overnight Closure of the Tip O’Neill Tunnel/I-93 Southbound Tuesday, June 2nd

MassDOT to Motorists: Plan Ahead for I-93 Restrictions through Boston

Complete Overnight Closure of the Tip O’Neill Tunnel/I-93 Southbound Tuesday, June 2^nd  

BOSTON—Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2^nd at 11 PM, overnight into Wednesday, June 3^rd, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s maintenance schedule will require complete lane closures of the Tip O’Neill Tunnel/I-93 in the southbound direction through Boston.

Beginning at Exit 28 on I-93 southbound, traffic will be diverted to the Mystic Ave Offramp at Exit 28, to begin along the detour route.  Upon exiting the offramp, all traffic will be directed through Sullivan Square to Rutherford Ave, following to the Surface Artery southbound.  At that point, traffic will return to the onramp from Albany Street at Herald Street returning to I-93 southbound.

            

The full closure will begin at 11 PM on Tuesday, June 2^nd, and last until 5 AM Wednesday, June 3^rd.  In the event of inclement weather, the closure will be postponed.

MassDOT encourages drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes to minimize delays.  Those traveling through the area should expect delays and should reduce speed and use caution while traveling along the detour routes. 

Work to be performed includes roadway sweeping, wall and sign washing.

For transportation news and updates visit MassDOT at our website: www.mass.gov/massdot, blog:www.mass.gov/blog/transportation, or follow MassDOT on twitter at www.twitter.com/massdo