哈佛學生學者慶端午 吟詩奏樂唱歌吃粽子

哈佛大學中國學生學者聯誼會（HUCSSA）六月廿日晚，在該校福爾摩斯（Holmes）廳舉辦“端午節野餐詩歌音樂會”，近百人在歌聲中思古念今，遙想屈原，深思何謂愛國，探討人生意義。

            活動主辦人，黃河合唱樂團指揮岳林博士在開場致詞中指出，中國在2008年時，把端午節確定為法定假日之一，但哈佛CSSA早從2001年開始，就每年舉辦端午節活動，紀念屈原，因為他們懷有中國文化傳人的責任感，欣賞屈原的抱理想主義精神不肯同流合污，也為屈原的在秦國攻破郢都後，懷抱大石投汨羅江自進而慨嘆。

        哈佛CSSA今年的端午節詩歌會，由郭曉茜擔任司儀，共有不下12項節目，包括曾圭，宋文宇，朱筠等三人演出“屈原臨江”獨幕詩劇，黃河合唱團女聲小合唱隊演唱“滄浪之水”，王雪琳演唱“沅水”。

            這場音樂會強調詩歌，選唱的多首歌曲，歌詞都是古詩，包括郭曉茜朗誦，岳林演唱徐志摩的“再別康橋“，李白的”贈汪倫“。廖東穗演唱孟浩然的“春曉”，馬志遠的“天淨沙”。

            在表演者朗誦，吟唱出一句句地“悄悄地，我走了，不帶走一片雲彩”，以及“枯藤老樹昏鴉，小橋流水人家，古道西風瘦馬，夕陽西下，斷腸人在天涯”時，全場靜悄無聲，感動流串在空氣中。

            京劇唱奏，是這場音樂會中的另一高潮。曾經是專業演員的李嘉音在龔承周二胡伴奏中演唱“蘇三起解”，還反串小生的唱了一段。波士頓京劇社的朱惠元在柯慶恩的京胡伴奏中，演唱“兒行千里母擔憂”後，應岳林要求，也反串女角的唱了一段，給會場帶來一段男女角反串鬥陣的趣味。

            樂器演奏也是當晚的一大表演環節。先是柯慶恩以京胡獨奏“夜深沉“，弓起弦落，樂音急促，牽人心弦，曲罷，全場爆出熱烈掌聲。

            獲有中央音樂學院鋼琴碩士學位的陳楊獨奏“快樂牧童“，新英格蘭音樂學院的小提琴手Justin DeFilippis演奏巴赫E大調第三號小提琴組曲。

            音樂會最後在黃河合唱團女聲小合唱隊和騰雅歌，騰雅橙這兩名小朋友合唱“紅蜻蜓”聲中落幕。

            音樂會後，出席者轉往室外，一邊享用主辦活動者準備的秭歸茶滷蛋，湘西酸辣湯等屈原故地的風味食品，汨羅江粽子，一邊欣賞曾獲香港國際武術大賽四項金牌的陳笑儀示範武術。

圖片說明：

            詩歌音樂會主辦人岳林（右一）請哈佛CSSA新任主席孫陸（左六）和表演者合影。（菊子攝）

            岳林（左起）介紹朱惠元，柯慶恩每年都為該活動表演。（菊子攝）

            陳笑儀示範武術。（菊子攝）

            黃河合唱團女聲小合唱部的部分團員與騰雅歌，騰雅橙兩名小朋友在會後合影。（菊子攝）

羅德島州馬塔納克小學孔子課堂揭牌

羅德島大學孔子學院日前為馬塔納克小學（Matunuck Elementary School）歷經四年籌備，終於獲得漢辦批准掛牌的孔子課堂，舉行揭牌儀式，逾百人出席慶祝。

羅德島大學副教務長Cliff Katz、羅德島大學孔子學院院長何文潮博士、南金士頓（South Kingston）學區學監Kristen Stringfellow、馬塔納克小學校長Elizabeth McGuire、前校長Deb Zepp等嘉賓都親自到會，表達祝賀。

何文潮院長為揭牌儀式致開幕辭。他回顧馬塔納克孔子課堂從2011年籌辦，2014年才獲漢辦批准的籌建不易，感謝羅德島大學、南金士頓學區、馬塔納克兩任校長大力支持，祝願孔子課堂未來發展美好。

南金士頓學區學監Kristen Stringfellow表示，設立孔子課堂將可進一步推動該學區中文教學和文化交流。

為慶祝孔子課堂揭牌，羅德島大學孔子學院和馬塔納克小學安排了多項表演，包括馬塔納克小學中文班演唱歌曲“兩隻老虎”，用中文表達祝福與感謝，羅德島大學中國文化俱樂部成員跳“小蘋果”舞，唱“哆來咪“歌，演奏長笛等樂器。

羅德島大學孔子學院當天還精心準備了中國文化體驗活動。在漢辦贊助設立的多媒體文化體驗中心之外，現場還設置了書法、剪紙、摺紙、筷子遊戲等4個文化體驗點。

出席的小朋友有的在多媒體文化體驗中心內觀看中國動畫《大鬧天宮》，有的跟隨羅德島大學中文科學生志工演練交互式多媒體應用，畫京劇臉譜，藉由聲音、圖像，一窺豐富多彩的中國文化天地。

            羅德島大學孔子學院的周靂表示，該院在羅德島州長期致力傳播中國語言文化，積極深入當地數十所中小學開展教學活動，籌建孔子課堂更是重要目標之一。

圖片說明：

            羅德島大學孔子學院院長何文潮博士致開幕詞。（圖由URI孔子學院提供）

            馬塔納克小學中文班演唱歌曲“兩隻老虎”。（圖由URI孔子學院提供）

            中國文化體驗活動中的書法展示攤位。（圖由URI孔子學院提供）

CITY OF BOSTON PURCHASES TWO LARGE SCALE TRUCK MOUNTED SNOW BLOWERS TO PREPARE FOR WINTER

CITY OF BOSTON PURCHASES TWO LARGE SCALE TRUCK MOUNTED SNOW BLOWERS TO PREPARE FOR WINTER

A snow blower similar to the new snow blowers purchased by the Public Works Department 

BOSTON - Monday, June 22, 2015 - The Boston Public Works Department (PWD) today announced the purchase of two large scale truck mounted snow blowers to more efficiently clear Boston's streets during periods of heavy snow fall. This past winter, over 1 billion cubic square feet of snow fell in Boston, setting a new record of over 108 inches of snow. The City rented similar snow blowers during snow removal efforts, but did not own the equipment.  

After a Request for Proposal (RFP) was released in May, two bids were submitted. Woodco Machinery, Inc., from Woburn, was the only bidder to meet the City's specs. The two L90 Volvo loaders with LaRue D55 blowers, which together create the entire machine, cost $645,000 and will take approximately 90 days to build.  

The two new pieces of equipment have the ability to 2,750 tons of snow per hour with a casting distance up to 150 feet. The blowers will be mounted on 4-wheel front-loaders from Volvo Construction Equipment, with tires over 4 feet in diameter. Large dump trucks, with capacities about 10 to 16 cubic yards, can move along with the blowers, catch snow and cart it to disposal sites. 

Simultaneously, PWD is currently working on compiling its 15 snow contracting RFPs, and may ask the awardees to provide similar large scale snow blowers to supplement these new purchases, however it will not be mandatory. 

PWD plowed 295,000 miles of roadway this past winter—roughly 12 trips around the earth - removed over 40,000 truckloads of snow from city streets, and melted 50,000 tons of snow at snow farms.

Montreal used similar equipment to battle recent snow storms. To view, click here.  

Malden Incorporates a New Tradition into July 4th Festivities

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Please join Mayor Gary Christenson for the commencement of a new Malden tradition to kick off the City’s July 4th festivities. The reading of the May 27, 1776 document that contains the “Instructions of the Inhabitants of Malden, Massachusetts to their Representatives in Congress” will be read on the lawn of the Malden Public Library on Friday, July 3rd at 5:30 PM rain or shine. Local Historian and period actor Tom Coots will perform the reenactment. The document was recently rediscovered when the Mayor was searching for a historic Malden relic to display at the State House. William Fowler, a former Malden resident and distinguished Professor of History at Northeastern University will be an invited special guest. Mr. Fowler is a published author on American History and wrote an article published in the Boston Globe on July 4th, 2001 titled “For the Real Birthplace of the Revolution, Look to Malden.”

The 1776 document was unanimously voted on by the townspeople of Malden to be delivered to the Second Continental Congress via their representative Ezra Sargeant. In the document, the voting citizens of Malden renounce the Colony’s ties to the Kingdom of Great Britain and set forth their wish to become an independent “American” republic.The document closes with the following powerful words:

“…and we now instruct you, sir (Ezra Sargeant), to give them (the Continental Congress) the strongest assurance that, if they should declare America to be a free and independent republic, your constituents will support and defend the measure, to the last drop of their blood, and the last farthing of their treasure.”

This document is credited as a precursor to the Declaration of Independence written in July of 1776 when the Continental Congress formally declared their independence from England.

MAYOR WALSH JOINS 35 MAYORS IN FIGHT AGAINST SEX TRAFFICKING

MAYOR WALSH JOINS 35 MAYORS IN FIGHT AGAINST SEX TRAFFICKING

U.S. Conference of Mayors Targets Demand for Paid Sex, Highlights National Legislation

BOSTON - Monday, June 22, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today reinforced his commitment to combating sex trafficking in Boston through comprehensive demand reduction and prevention. At the 83rd Annual Conference of Mayors in San Francisco, Mayor Walsh joined 35 mayors from across the country in signing a resolution calling for aggressive anti-trafficking interventions to end demand for sex buying and mitigate the associated public safety, economic and health risks to our nation’s cities.

“Human trafficking is a crisis that is plaguing our communities, in Boston, and across the nation,” said Mayor Walsh. “We must do everything we can to raise awareness and put an end to this heinous crime, by working together to allocate much needed resources to victims and survivors. We must continue to seek justice, safe communities and programming to help those who have been affected.”

Focusing on eliminating the demand for sexual exploitation, the resolution urges that all anti-trafficking strategies hold both sex buyers and pimps accountable for fueling a deeply damaging industry and provide services to help exploited people leave the industry. In addition to citywide strategies, the mayors also called on the federal government to quickly implement the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA), which will direct much needed resources to help law enforcement target buyers and support victims.  

JVTA is the first comprehensive bill to address the domestic trafficking of American citizens, providing funding for survivor services, as well as new tools for law enforcement to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes.

The mayors also advocated demand reduction as a pragmatic, effective way to eliminate the sexual exploitation. Sex buyers drive the illegal, harmful enterprise and associated criminal and societal challenges, including drug addiction, street violence, and gangs, according to the resolution.

“Every day, sex buyers make the choice to perpetuate a deeply damaging industry that hurts vulnerable people and harms our communities,” said Ziba Cranmer, Executive Director of Demand Abolition, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit working to reduce the demand for purchased sex. “Holding buyers accountable for their choices while supporting survivors exploited by the industry is critical to the safety and well-being of individuals in cities across the city. Take away the buyers, and we take away the abuse.”

Mayor Walsh is among 11 mayors in a network launched in February called Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation (CEASE). Catalyzed by Demand Abolition, these cities are committed to reducing the demand for buying sex in their communities by 20 percent within two years. Many cities have already implemented tactics to end demand for illegal commercial sexual exploitation and many mayors are focused on reducing this harmful industry locally and nationally.

During the Conference, Mayor Walsh also sponsored a resolution equity in medical research, which builds off the 1993 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act, a law mandating that women and minorities be included in clinical trials funded by the NIH. This new resolution calls on the federal government and other funding agencies ensure that the design of clinical studies includes a consideration of the sex of the subject, adequate participation of women, including women from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and the reporting of sex-stratified findings, and that medical device and pharmaceutical labeling should carry a disclaimer or warning label if clinical testing did not include adequate numbers of female subjects.

Other resolutions sponsored by the Mayor focused on common-sense gun legislation, paid-parental leave policies, addressing the nation’s wealth gap and economic security and increasing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding for underserved populations. For more information on the Annual Meeting or the resolutions sponsored by Mayor Walsh, please visit: usmayors.org.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES BOSTON TO HOST 2018 U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS ANNUAL MEETING

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES BOSTON TO HOST 2018 U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS ANNUAL MEETING 

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. - Monday, June 22, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that Boston has been named the host city for the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) 86th Annual Meeting in June 2018. 

"The City of Boston is honored to be selected to host the 2018 U.S. Conference of Mayors," said Mayor Walsh. "I look forward to showing my colleagues and their families the rich diversity of all that Boston has to offer. I want to thank USCM President Stephanie Rawlings Blake of Baltimore and CEO of USCM Tom Cochran for their continued support.”

“We are pleased that the nation’s mayors will be convening in Boston for our 2018 summer meeting,” said USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. “Mayor Marty Walsh has been an active and engaged member of the Conference, particularly in the area of income inequality. We look forward to continuing our conversation on identifying effective ways to close the wage gap in this city, which has been a leader on the issue.”

An estimated 200 mayors will gather in Boston for the four-day session, led by Mayor Walsh as the host city mayor. Boston last hosted the USCM Annual Meeting in 2004, and the City is excited to highlight our evolution as a hub of innovation, cultural celebration and economic vitality since that time.

USCM is a nonpartisan organization, which represents cities with populations of 30,000 or larger. Each year, USCM hosts its summer meeting in a different city, creating a forum where leaders can share best practices and shape a national agenda that meets the needs of the nation’s metropolitan areas.  More than 250 mayors from across the country attend the four-day event to discuss issues such as education, transportation, criminal justice, energy and jobs. Guest speakers are featured throughout the event and have included The President and Vice President of the United States, key Congressional members and corporate leaders.

About The U.S. Conference of Mayor:

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

RED SOX TO HONOR HALL OF FAME ELECTEE PEDRO MARTINEZ AND RETIRE HIS NUMBER 45 DURING PREGAME CEREMONIES ON TUESDAY, JULY 28

RED SOX TO HONOR HALL OF FAME ELECTEE PEDRO MARTINEZ AND RETIRE HIS NUMBER 45 DURING PREGAME CEREMONIES ON TUESDAY, JULY 28

BOSTON, MA – The Red Sox today announced plans to retire Pedro Martinez’s number 45 as a tribute to his exceptional career in a Red Sox uniform and in honor of his upcoming induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  The ceremony will take place at Fenway Park before the Red Sox-White Sox game on Tuesday, July 28, just two days after the right-handed pitcher is enshrined in Cooperstown, NY. 

The number 45 will be the ninth on the right field facade of Fenway Park, joining Bobby Doerr’s #1; Joe Cronin’s #4; Johnny Pesky’s #6; Carl Yastrzemski’s #8; Ted Williams’ #9; Jim Rice’s #14; Carlton Fisk’s #27; and Jackie Robinson’s #42, which is retired throughout Major League Baseball.

“To be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame upon his first year of eligibility speaks volumes regarding Pedro’s outstanding career, and is a testament to the respect and admiration so many in baseball have for him,” said Red Sox Principal Owner John W. Henry.

“And baseball fans admire Pedro for more than his remarkable career accomplishments. His dynamic personality, love for the game, his fearlessness coupled with humility, his passionate, competitive spirit, and his ability to squeeze every ounce of talent out of a small frame were reasons so many fans connected with him. For me personally, he was one of the most incredible pitchers I’ve had the privilege of watching, and one of the reasons our ownership group arrived here in 2002. We very much look forward to honoring Pedro's remarkable career this July.”

Martinez’s jersey number will be retired exactly seven years after Jim Rice’s number 14 was retired on July 28, 2008.  

A three-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star, the electric Martinez spent seven seasons with the Red Sox beginning in 1998 and was a key part of the 2004 team that brought a World Series title to Boston for the first time since 1918. 

  

During his 18-year major league career, the right-hander went 219-100 with a 2.93 ERA and 3,154 strikeouts in 2,827.1 innings.  His career .687 winning percentage ranks second among modern major leaguers (since 1900) behind only Whitey Ford’s .690 mark (more than 250 decisions). 

Among pitchers with at least 2,500 career innings in the majors, only Nolan Ryan (.204) has a lower opponent batting average than Martinez (.214).  Since the live ball era began in 1920, no pitcher has a lower opponent on-base percentage than his .276 mark.

With the Red Sox, Martinez went 117-37 with a 2.52 ERA.  He has the best winning percentage in franchise history (.760) and also tops club records (min. 1,000 innings) with an average of 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings and a .206 opponent batting average.  Among Red Sox all-time leaders, he ranks third in strikeouts (1,683), sixth in wins (117), and seventh in ERA.

In his tenure with Boston, Martinez was the major league leader in winning percentage, ERA, opponent batting average, opponent on-base percentage (.261), opponent slugging percentage (.317), opponent OPS (.578), and WHIP (0.98).  He also led all American Leaguers in strikeouts per nine innings, the only AL pitcher to average at least a strikeout per inning during that stretch.

He was the starter, winner, and Most Valuable Player of the memorable 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park on July 13.  He struck out the first four batters he faced:  Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa.  After Matt Williams reached on an error, he struck out Jeff Bagwell.  Williams was then caught stealing to end the inning and the seal the performance.

In his career, Martinez led the major leagues in ERA on five occasions, including 1997 with the Expos (1.90) and four times during his first five years as a member of the Red Sox: 1999 (2.07), 2000 (1.74), 2002 (2.26), and 2003 (2.22).  He won the AL’s strikeout title in 1999 (313), 2000 (284), and 2002 (239).

Martinez, now 43 years old, finished within the top four in AL Cy Young balloting in six of his seven seasons with the Red Sox (the exception coming in 2001, when injuries limited him to 18 starts).

He was the unanimous winner of the American League’s Cy Young Award in back-to-back seasons – 1999 and 2000.  Winning the AL pitching Triple Crown in 1999, he fanned a Red Sox-record 313 batters in 213.1 innings, and set an MLB record that still stands by striking out 37.5 percent of the batters he faced.  That year, he also set a big league record striking out at least 10 batters in eight consecutive games.

His 1.74 ERA in 2000 is the best single-season mark by an American League pitcher over the last 46 seasons (starting in 1969).  In 2000, he established modern major league records for lowest opponent average (.167), lowest opponent on-base percentage (.213), and WHIP (0.74). 

Signed originally in 1988 by the Los Angeles Dodgers, for whom he played in 1992 and 1993, Martinez also played for the Montreal Expos (1994-97), the Red Sox (1998-2004), the New York Mets (2005-08), and the Philadelphia Phillies (2009).

He is tied for the Red Sox record with 11 starts over four seasons of postseason play with Boston, and compiled a 3.40 ERA in his 13 total postseason outings with the club.  He is also the franchise’s all-time leader in wins (tied, 6), strikeouts (80), and innings pitched (79.1) in the postseason.

The last game of his Red Sox playing career was his World Series victory in Game 3 in St. Louis in 2004.  The last game of his Major League Baseball career was also in the World Series, for the Phillies versus the New York Yankees in 2009.

Since his retirement, Martinez has spent his time working with his charitable foundation, The Pedro Martinez and Brothers Foundation, which he created in 1998. The organization focuses on providing educational opportunities both in the classroom and through baseball in the Dominican Republic and United States. 

Martinez returned to the Red Sox organization in January 2013 and has spent the last two and a half years as Special Assistant to the General Manager.

Baker-Polito Administration Pledges Funding to Allow for Full Redevelopment of Union Station

Baker-Polito Administration Pledges Funding to Allow for Full Redevelopment of Union Station

$12 million commitment fills remaining gap to realize vision of modern intermodal transportation center

SPRINGFIELD – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito committed the remaining funds necessary to reach the total goal required to complete the redevelopment of Union Station in Springfield.  Lt. Governor Polito joined Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Congressman Richard E. Neal and Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack for today’s announcement.

The $12 million commitment is a combined sum from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation that brings the total amount of federal, state and local funding to $88.5 million, the amount needed to achieve the complete station redevelopment project.

 “With access to the east-west and north-south interstate highways, and corresponding rail corridors, the city of Springfield is strategically situated at the transportation crossroads of New England,” said Governor Baker.  “The funding we are pledging today will allow for the redevelopment of Union Station to capitalize on those connections, and rebuild the station into a regional transit hub that provides more options in a modernized building with space for new economic activity and growth.”

When complete, the revitalized Union Station will have 66,000 square feet of leasable commercial space, a 26-bay open-air bus terminal, a new six-level parking garage, a completely renovated terminal building, a reactivated passenger tunnel and a new ADA-compliant rail boarding platform.  The redeveloped Union Station is expected to support approximately 200 permanent jobs. 

“Springfield plays a key role in the regional economy, and by providing this funding support, we are sending a strong signal that we value this city’s importance to the region, and can see its future potential,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.  “In addition to serving as a transit hub, Union Station also holds the promise of sparking a revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood.” 

The Springfield Redevelopment Authority is the owner and designated developer of Union Station, and has been leading efforts to advocate for resources to advance this project since 2010.  Initial construction efforts began in early 2014, and this $12 million commitment will ensure that an economically viable infrastructure project, that has the potential to fuel economic development, will be fully operational in 2016.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “I would like to thank Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito for this significant grant that will allow for the full redevelopment of Springfield Union Station. With substantial money secured by Congressman Richard E. Neal this grant will allow for a full build of the planned two phase redevelopment. When completed the region will have a modern Intermodal transportation center and Springfield will have long time vacant building completely redeveloped.”  

“Nearly 38 years ago to the day, I stood in the grand concourse of Union Station and talked about its place in our city’s history, but how it could also become a significant part of Springfield’s future. Roughly four decades later, after a considerable amount of time and effort, that vision has become a reality. With today’s final funding announcement, we are one step closer to the completion of a new $90 million intermodal transportation center that has the potential of transforming the city’s north blocks. I look forward to the historic re-opening of this iconic structure in the fall of next year,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal.

“I’m excited that we can help push this project over the last funding hurdle so that Union Station can begin a new era as a transit hub for Springfield and the region, and that can also lead to new partnerships that will result in the development of transit-oriented development, new economic activity, and more transportation choices for region,” said MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack.

“The redevelopment of Union Station transforms a once dormant, blighted property into a vibrant mixed-use multimodal regional transit hub, creating new opportunities and supporting existing development efforts in the city. The $2.4 million in MassWorks funds leverage MassDOT’s available federal funding, and will ensure the completion of this regionally significant project,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. 

Of the $12 million, $9.6 million has been allocated by MassDOT from Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality federal funding, the remaining $2.4 million, which represents a required match to leverage the federal funds, has been allocated by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development through the MassWorks Infrastructure Program. Construction is expected to reach full build out and be complete by the fall of 2016.