Baker-Polito Administration Honors Commonwealth’s Top Saltwater Anglers

Baker-Polito Administration Honors Commonwealth’s Top Saltwater Anglers

BOSTON – February 19, 2016 – State fisheries officials will present 26 trophies to winners of the 2015 Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby at a ceremony at the New England Boat Show in Boston on Saturday, February 20 at 1:00 p.m. Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Deputy Commissioner Mary-Lee King, Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) Director David Pierce, and DMF Assistant Director for Recreational Fisheries Mike Armstrong will present the awards.

“Saltwater fishing is a valued part of Massachusetts’ heritage, culture and economy, and saltwater fishing permits help pay for the important management and conservation of our marine resources,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The annual Saltwater Fishing Derby is a fun and exciting way to honor the Commonwealth’s saltwater anglers and encourage people to take advantage of the recreational opportunities available on the beautiful Massachusetts coast.”

“These awards remind us that incredible saltwater fishing opportunities are just a few months away for the more than 160,000 licensed salt water recreational anglers in the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “As an avid fisherman myself, I’m pleased to recognize these exceptional anglers for their fishing skills and outstanding catches.”

“The Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby is a great way to encourage people to enjoy the tremendous fishing that Massachusetts marine environment provides,” said DFG Commissioner George Peterson. “Congratulations to all the skilled anglers for their dedication to fishing and their accomplishment in making these remarkable catches.”

DMF’s Saltwater Fishing Derby awards pins to all qualifying entries in 21 species categories and presents trophies to anglers who landed the heaviest fish in each species category. Winners are chosen in three divisions: men, women and juniors (age 15 and younger). There were a total of 75 entries from anglers living in seven states in 2015. Captain Joe Huckemeyer won the Skillful Skipper award for having three of the Derby-winning fish caught on his boat, the Helen H. See chart below for the full list of winners:

Weigh-In Derby
Name	Town of Residence	Division	Species	Heaviest Fish
Kevin Cheung	Quincy	Men's	Black Sea Bass	5 lb. 10 oz.
Valerie Turner	Westport	Women's	Black Sea Bass	4 lb. 15 oz.
Benjamin Laliberte	Bristol, RI	Junior's	Black Sea Bass	5 lb. 0 oz.
Greg Pearson	Brewster	Men's	Bluefish	18 lb.
Katie Bluemer	Deer Park, IL	Women's	Bluefish	12 lb. 6 oz.
Gage Defazio	Webster, NY	Junior's	Bluefish	15 lb. 3 oz.
Michael Singer	Natick	Men's	Bonito	5 lb. 6 oz.
Amy Vickers	Chilmark	Women's	Bonito	8 lb. 7 oz.
Bill Byrne	Toms River, NJ	Men's	Fluke	15 lb. 4 oz.
Jackie Capute	Centerville	Women's	Fluke	11 lb. 1 oz.
Kevin Cheung	Quincy	Men's	Mako Shark	302 lb.
Mike Evensen	Scituate	Men's	Porbeagle Shark	483 lb.
Kevin Lavimodiere	Noth Attleboro	Men's	Scup	3 lb. 15 oz.
Jenna Goldstein	Kingston	Women's	Scup	3 lb.
Arthur Rossignol	Taunton	Junior's	Scup	2 lb. 4 oz.
Janna O'Shaughnessy	Edgartown	Women's	Spanish Mackerel	5 lb. 11 oz.
Fred Skaff	Haverhill	Men's	Striped Bass	53 lb. 2 oz.
Theresa Cicco	Wareham	Women's	Striped Bass	41 lb. 4 oz.
Joshua Pierce	Humble, TX	Junior's	Striped Bass	36 lb. 15 oz.
Alexander Kalife	New Bedford	Men's	Tautog	9 lb. 5 oz.
Kanbe Mao	Dorchester	Junior's	Tautog	9 lb. 6 oz.
Ben O'Connor	Salem	Junior	Winter Flounder	3 lb. 8 oz.
John Crawford	Hudson, NH	Junior	Winter Flounder	3 lb. 8 oz.
Catch and Release Derby Winners
Name	Town of Residence	Species		Length
Ross Kessler	Fairhaven	False Albacore		29 inches
Michael Rossignol	Taunton	Fluke		24 inches
Ray Jarvis	Berkley	Striped Bass		48.5 inches
Skillful Skipper
Name		Vessel
Captain Joe Huckemeyer		Helen H

The annual Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby runs from January 1 through November 30 and is free to enter. Each Derby has its own set of rules and target species. To qualify for the weigh-in category of the Saltwater Fishing Derby, entries must be caught by hook and line and weighed in at DMF-certified weigh stations. Anglers participating in the catch and release category of the derby are required to submit a picture of their fish on a measuring device. Click here to learn more about the Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby.

DFG officials ask anglers to practice responsible fishing. DMF’s Responsible Angler Practices Brochure instructs anglers in how to properly handle and release fish, how to use tackle that minimizes unintended harm to fish, and reminds anglers to minimize fight time, properly dispose of trash and unwanted tackle, to use circle hooks, wide gap hooks, and barbless hooks, and to take steps to protect habitat while fishing.

DFG is responsible for promoting the conservation and enjoyment of the Commonwealth's natural resources. DFG carries out this mission through land protection and wildlife habitat management, management of inland and marine fish and wildlife species, and ecological restoration of fresh water, salt water, and terrestrial habitats. DFG promotes enjoyment of the Massachusetts environment through outdoor skills workshops, fishing festivals and other educational programs, and by enhancing access to the Commonwealth's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

波士頓市政府今年將首度慶祝農曆新年

波士頓市政府今年連破紀錄，1月份才選出波市有史以來的首名華裔市議會議長吳弭，2月份又將首次由市政府出面，在市政府大樓內隆重舉辦農曆新年慶祝會。

波士頓市議長辦公室今（19）日發出通知，波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）和波士頓市議會議長吳弭（Michelle Wu）將於2月22日，早上11點半，在市政府大樓三樓大堂，舉辦農曆新年慶祝會，迎接喉年到來。

活動包括擊鼓表演，市長及市議長，民代致詞，接著舞蹈表演。

在尊重多元化族裔的現代趨勢中，全美各地都有地方政府、學校把不同族裔的新年，或特定節慶日，規定為假日。紐約市長白思豪 Bill de Blasio去年三月才宣佈，把伊斯蘭教的忠孝節（Eid al-Adha），開齋節（Eid al-Fitr）規定為放假日。

坊間有新聞報導指麻州劍橋市，密西根州迪爾伯恩市（Dearborn），佛蒙特州伯靈頓（Burlington）、新澤西州巴特森（Paterson）及南布朗斯威克（South Brunswick）等學區，已將前述兩伊斯蘭節日列為假日

美國加州參議院去年通過慶祝農曆新年法案，紐約市長也於去年宣佈，今年（2016）起，學校可在農曆新年放假一天。全美各地，包括麻州華人社區呼籲地方政府，學校在農曆新年時放假的聲音也越來越多。

波士頓市在打破歷史紀錄的選出首名華裔市議會議長後，波士頓市及麻州，推動農曆新年放假的行動力度，或將更強大。

Boston City Hall Lunar New Year Celebration 2/22

On Monday, February 22nd, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Council President Michelle Wu will be holding a Lunar New Year Celebration to welcome the Year of the Monkey with food and performances.

TENTATIVE PROGRAM:

11:30-12:00    General reception

12:00-12:05    Drum performance 

12:05-12:10    Remarks by Council President Wu

12:10-12:15    Remarks by Mayor Walsh

12:15-12:20    Remarks by other elected officials

12:20-12:40    Dance performances

12:40-1:00      Closing reception

WHEN: Monday, Feburary 22, 11:30AM-1:00PM

WHERE: Boston City Hall, 3rd Floor Mezzanine

僑委會2016年烘焙製作班 3/15 截止報名

僑務委員會「2016年烘焙製作班」簡介

一、    研習目的：

為應海外僑胞創業及轉業之需求，規劃適合在海外創業之烘焙糕點製作專業課程，以協助僑胞厚植相關專業技能及提升經營事業之能力，並促進與國內業者之商機交流。

二、    研習時間：2016年5月2日至5月13日（週日不上課）

三、    報名截止日期：2016年3月15日

四、    主辦單位：僑務委員會

五、    承辦單位：弘光科技大學

六、    報到及研習地點：弘光科技大學（臺中市沙鹿區臺灣大道六段1018號）

七、    研習對象：20歲至65歲，通曉中文，有意學習烘焙糕點實作相關創業技術之海外僑胞。以海外相關僑營事業從業人員及近兩年未曾參加本會經貿研習班者為優先。

八、    研習課程內容及時數：

實際研習日程計11天，研習總時數至少77小時，包括各類烘焙糕點製作原理（方法）、材料、設備等基礎課程及觀摩參訪相關知名業者。

九、    費用負擔方式：

（一）     本會提供研習期間午餐(不含晚餐及5月8日自由活動日之午、晚餐)、課程教材、師資、場地及材料等學雜費用。

（二）     學員自行負擔部分：

1.由僑居地往返臺灣之交通費、研習期間膳宿及其他個人費用；如需住宿安排，可洽由承辦單位弘光科技大學協助代訂住宿。

2.研習所需書籍及實作制服費用，委由弘光科技大學統一採購。

十、    報名注意事項：

（一）      報名表件請以正楷填寫或繕打，於簽名處親簽後，送我駐外館處或華僑文教服務中心報名，未經核轉逕向本會或承辦單位報名者，概不受理。報名表件請向波士頓華僑文教服務中心索取或逕自本會網站（www.ocac.gov.tw首頁/公告事項/開班）或全球僑商服務網（www.ocbn.org.tw首頁/僑商培訓邀訪/最新預告）下載。

波士頓華僑文教服務中心Tel:617-965-8801Email:ocacbostonlib@gmail.com

波士頓華僑文教中心 ( Culture Center of TECO in Boston )
許淑芬Amy Huang
90 Lincoln St., Newton, MA 02461
Tel:617-965-8801, Fax:617-965-8815 
https://www.facebook.com/bostonocac

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE CITY'S SECOND PUBLIC SPACE INVITATIONAL

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE CITY'S SECOND PUBLIC SPACE INVITATIONAL

Challenges Boston's Creative Community to Help Reimagine Public Spaces

Watch the Public Space Invitational Video here. BOSTON - Friday, February 19, 2016 - Today, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the launch of the second Public Space Invitational, a civic design competition that aims to reimagine our public spaces in Boston. "This competition serves as a great opportunity for Boston's talented and creative community to show us how we can use pilot projects to improve the functionality and attraction to our public spaces," said Mayor Walsh. "We are always looking for new ways to provide great city services and engage members of the public, and through this competition, we are building on our mission to create thriving, healthy, and innovative civic spaces across our city." The Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics, in partnership with the Boston Art Commission and the City's Streets cabinet, are asking teams of designers, artists and engineers to submit ideas on how to make civic space, infrastructure, or civic processes more inviting, functional and fun. Up to five projects will be selected and winning teams will have up to $9,500 for construction and implementation of their projects. Submissions will be accepted through April 3, 2016. The application is available here. This year's Public Space Invitational features three challenges: an analog challenge, a digital challenge and a bonus challenge. Analog Challenge: a partnership with the Boston Society of Architects, seeks traditional, but innovative approaches to improve the streetscape;   Digital Challenge: a partnership with Microsoft Technology and Civic Engagement, seeks projects that experiment with technology, sensors and a generally connected world;   Bonus Challenge: a partnership with the MBTA and Massachusetts College of Art and Design's Matthew Hincman to help a winning team make bus shelters, specifically those at Mattapan Station, more inviting, beautiful, and comfortable. In 2014, Mayor Walsh announced nine winners of the City's first-ever Public Space Invitational, which resulted in projects that brought a tidal vibraphone to the Congress Street bridge, provided pop-up learning opportunities for residents, and activated the mezzanine of City Hall with brightly colored skateboard tape. The Public Space Invitational is part of a continuing series of efforts to engage Boston's creative community. For more information on the initiative, please visit space.newurbanmechanics.org, join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #BostonPSI, or watch this promotional video. About the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics The Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics in Boston serves as the City's innovation incubator, building partnerships between internal agencies and outside entrepreneurs to pilot projects that address resident needs. About the Boston Art Commission First assembled in 1890, the Boston Art Commission advocates for the creation of innovative and transformative art and promotes its accessibility to enrich the lives of Boston's diverse citizens and visitors. About the Streets Cabinet The Streets cabinet includes the City's Public Works and Transportation Departments.  Together, they plan, design, build and manage Boston's 800 miles of City streets.

FACT SHEET: The White House Launches New National Effort and Ad Council Campaign to Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism and Drive Student Success

FACT SHEET: The White House Launches New National Effort and Ad Council Campaign to Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism and Drive Student Success

Today, the White House and the U.S. Department of Education announce two groundbreaking campaigns to address and eliminate chronic student absenteeism in this country:  the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Success Mentors Initiative -- with 10 initial participating cities -- and a multi-million dollar Ad Council campaign to engage parents on this critical issue. Chronic absenteeism is a nationwide challenge with devastating consequences for more than five to seven million students, and in low-income communities, the impact is even more prevalent. These efforts are part of the national Every Student, Every Day Campaign, and is in response to the MBK Task Force’s recommendation that federal agencies launch a cross-sector national absenteeism initiative to improve the outcomes for young people, including those in underserved communities.

A Groundbreaking Mentorship Initiative:

The MBK Success Mentors Initiative aims to reduce chronic absenteeism by connecting over one million students with caring mentors. It is the nation’s first-ever effort to scale an evidence-based, data-driven mentor model to reach and support the highest risk students – using existing resources already linked to schools, and the metric of chronic absenteeism to drive school and life success.  The Initiative is a partnership between the Department of Education and Johns Hopkins University.

The Initiative will launch with participation from school districts in 10 communities – Austin, Boston, Columbus, Denver, Miami-Dade, New York City, Philadelphia, Providence, San Antonio and Seattle – that accepted the MBK community challenge. Additional communities are expected to join this effort by the spring.  Over the coming months, MBK Success Mentors will work with students in the 6^th and 9^th grades across their communities’ high needs school districts, with the goal of reaching over 250,000 students over the next two years  and eliminating chronic absenteeism in these grades. At full scale when operating in grades K-12 across districts, the model aims to reach over 1 million students within the next 3-5 years. In the next phase, the initiative will be bolstered by college students from nearby colleges who will serve as MBK College Success Mentors, leveraging federal work-study allocations.  Miami-Dade College will be the first MBK community to launch this college-linked model as part of this effort.

The MBK Success Mentors Initiative model connects students to caring adults who are trained school-linked personnel. These mentors will receive additional resources and tools to help them mentor students with greater impact. Mentors will include coaches, administrative staff, teachers, security guards, educators, AmeriCorps members, tutors, after-school providers and others. They will serve as trained and supported motivators, problem solvers, connectors, and advocates to form supportive relationships, identify and celebrate student’s strengths, promote their attendance every day, and connect them with the necessary supports to keep them on track and thriving.  Each mentor is assigned 3-5 students as mentees. Mentors are also “connectors,” helping flag challenges causing absenteeism and connecting mentees to appropriate school personnel or resources through this system that would otherwise remain untapped. Mentors meet with students 3 times per week in school all year and are trained to find a mentee’s positive strengthens, celebrate them, and call home as a parent engagement tool.

Key Department of Education collaborators in this work include Dr. Robert Balfanz of Johns Hopkins University’s Everyone Graduates Center, MENTOR, Attendance Works, United Way, Corporation for National and Community Service, the Ad Council, Mott Foundation and the Arnold Foundation, which will provide critical assistance in identifying mentors, as well as strategic advice, training, and philanthropic support.

The Ad Council’s Parent Engagement Campaign — Absences Add Up:

The Ad Council, in partnership with the Department of Education and the Mott Foundation, will simultaneously launch a multi-million dollar parent engagement campaign to elevate the conversation about the devastating impact of chronic absenteeism, specifically targeting parents of K-8^th grade students.

The Ad Council has helped to address some of the country’s most challenging public health and safety concerns, and through this campaign with MBK, will help to ensure that students across the country have the opportunity to succeed.  The effort will include billboards and bus shelter outdoor Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and community posters for barbershops, doctor’s offices and schools. A key component of the effort will include a new campaign website offering resources for parents in the key areas that contribute to student absences, including an online tool kit offering downloadable resources such as customizable posters, blog posts, infographics and absence trackers. The website will also include resources for educators, community leaders and afterschool providers.

Through this awareness campaign, the Ad Council and its partners will help raise awareness about how chronic absenteeism affects children in the short-and long-term, and share tips and resources for parents to help address chronic absenteeism.

Why This Matters:

Chronic absenteeism, or missing at least ten percent of school days in the school year, or a month or more of school, excused or unexcused, is a leading cause of low achievement and a powerful predictor of which students will eventually drop out of school. Five to seven and a half million children miss a month or more of school each year, putting them at significant risk of falling behind and not graduating from high school. Half the high-need students who fall off-track to high school graduation do so in just 65 school districts. Chronic absenteeism is often the first flag. 

A recent report by America’s Promise Alliance shows that students in our highest need communities typically experience “relationship poverty,” which greatly increases the odds that they will dropout. The research showed that having a caring adult in their lives was a major counter force to dropping out.  Having a caring adult in school had the largest impact of all – reducing the likelihood of leaving school by 25%. 

Every Student, Every Day Campaign is focused on the estimated 5 to 7.5 million students who are chronically absent each year. Defined as missing at least 10 percent (approximately 18 days) of school days in a school year, chronic absenteeism puts students at heightened risk of falling behind and dropping out of school. Together, communities can address and eliminate chronic absenteeism, and ultimately boost student success and strengthen our nation's workforce and our future prosperity. As part of this initiative, the Administration is collaborating with states, local communities, and nonprofit, faith, and philanthropic organizations to support local, cross-sector efforts.

Evaluating and Planning

To build the most impactful intervention possible, a multi-year evaluation and learning agenda will be incorporated into the MBK Success Mentor Initiative, including a series of randomized variations of the model, and cutting edge components including district-based mentor and mentee text messaging, and socio-emotional skills training. Private support for this evaluation and learning agenda is being provided by the Arnold Foundation. Based on the evaluation, the Department of Education will develop guidance and tool kits for school districts to  implement this model.