ATTORNEY GENERAL HEALEY DEMANDS THAT U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT STOP ONLINE SPREAD OF 3D-PRINTED GUN PLANS

ATTORNEY GENERAL HEALEY DEMANDS THAT U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT STOP ONLINE SPREAD OF 3D-PRINTED GUN PLANS

Leads Coalition of 22 State Attorneys General in Letter Urging Trump Administration to Take Immediate Action

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today led a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions demanding that the Department of State take immediate action to remove from several websites downloadable plans for 3D-printed guns that were illegally posted online.

The letter criticizes the Department of State’s failure to mitigate the harms of its settlement with Defense Distributed, an online company that was authorized by the federal government to post plans for 3D-printed guns online. Last week, a multistate lawsuit filed by AG Healey and eight other state attorneys general seeking to stop the Department of State’s action won a temporary restraining order from a federal judge in Seattle, blocking the publication of downloadable plans online. Eleven other state AGs have since joined that lawsuit.

In the letter, the state attorneys general call on Secretary Pompeo and AG Sessions to take steps to ensure that Defense Distributed’s files are not available to anyone, especially those who pose a threat to public safety.

“The longer these 3D-printed gun files are available online, the greater the risk they will fall into the hands of terrorists and violent criminals,” said AG Healey. “The Trump Administration is responsible for this public safety threat and must act immediately to remove these files from the internet.”

Since the temporary restraining order was put in place, Defense Distributed removed files for 3D-printed guns posted on its website, but several other easily accessible websites have since re-posted these files online and the federal government has taken no apparent action to have them removed.   

AG Healey also led a multistate letter of 21 state attorneys general last week urging AG Jeff Sessions and Secretary Pompeo to withdraw from the settlement with Defense Distributed, writing that it recklessly disregards public safety. AG Sessions and Secretary Pompeo have yet to respond to the state AGs’ concerns and have not indicated any willingness to confront the urgent public safety risk posed by 3D-printed firearms.

AG Healey this week joined with partners in Massachusetts law enforcement to issue a public safety notice detailing the serious violations of state law arising from the creation of these undetectable guns.

Joining AG Healey in today’s coalition are state attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

COMMONWEALTH’S NURSES BLAST QUESTION ONE IN LATEST TV ADS

COMMONWEALTH’S NURSES BLAST QUESTION ONE IN LATEST TV ADS

Nurses demand to advocate for their patients, assert mandate would decrease quality and accessibility of care

BOSTON, MA – August 10, 2018– The Coalition to Protect Patient Safety today announced the launch of several new television, radio, and social media ads to be aired across Massachusetts in opposition to the nurse staffing ballot question, slated to be Question 1 on the ballot this November. The ads feature local nurses explaining to voters how the measure would apply a government mandated, one-size-fits-all approach to nursing, threatening quality of care, leading to longer wait times and limiting access to care. The TV ads can be viewed here.

“I feel like I’m the patients’ quarterback,” said Ann Marie Thompson, a Massachusetts RN, in an ad. “I know what they need, so don’t take that away from me. If nurses lose that ability at the bedside to advocate for the patient, then it’s the patient that will suffer.”

“Most nurses in Massachusetts do not support this ballot measure,” said Allison Conlon, a Marshfield nurse with over 24 years of experience featured in the radio ad. “If this ballot measure passes, hospitals and our patients will suffer.”

The new ads launched on August 8th alongside an ad similar to one seen throughout May and June featuring Amanda Ford, a Registered Nurse at Lowell General Hospital. The new ads send a clear message that members of the Coalition, including almost every nursing and healthcare organization across the state, are serious about the dangers Question 1 would pose to patients.

“The government does not know what it takes to care for a patient. We’re the ones that do,” said Amanda Ford, a resident of Dracut and a Registered Nurse at Lowell General Hospital featured in the ads. “This ballot measure would be disastrous.”

“We’ve talked with hundreds of nurses on the frontlines of delivering care, who know the devastating results this one-size-fits-all mandate will have on their patients, hospitals, and communities,” said Coalition to Protect Patient Safety spokesperson Dan Cence. “We all agree that responsible staffing is a critical part of nursing, but Question 1 allows for zero flexibility. Nurses know they face endless scenarios each day and that you can’t provide cookie-cutter care.”

The ballot question, proposed by the Massachusetts nurses’ union, which represents less than a quarter of nurses in the Commonwealth, would require that hospitals across the state, no matter their size or specific needs of their patients, adhere to the same rigid nurse staffing ratios within all patient care areas at all times. The petition does not make allowances for rural or small community hospitals, holding them to the same staffing ratios as major Boston teaching hospitals.

Nurses and leading healthcare organizations from across the state have made it clear that the proposed staffing ratios are a bad idea for patients, healthcare professionals and hospitals. The American Nurses Association of Massachusetts, the Organization of Nurse Leaders, the Massachusetts Associations of Colleges of Nursing, the New England Chapter of the Infusion Nurses Society and other healthcare leaders have all joined the Coalition to Protect Patient Safety in protecting the state’s healthcare system and its patients from the consequences of this rigid, costly mandate that is expected to be placed before voters in the November 2018 election.

“There are no scientific studies or reports that demonstrate the effectiveness of government mandated, one-size-fits-all nurse staffing ratio for improving quality of care, patient outcomes or professional nursing practice." said Donna Glynn, President of the American Nurses Association and a Nurse Scientist for the VA Boston Healthcare System. “In fact, no studies evaluating nurse staffing ratios reported a magic number as the single factor to affect patient outcomes or job satisfaction. This ballot question is ignoring scientific fact around what is best for nursing practice, decision making and quality patient care.”

This measure would cost the Massachusetts healthcare system more than $1.3 billion dollars in the first year, and more than $900 million each year thereafter, according to an independent study by MassInsight and BW Research Partners. Hospitals will be forced to cut vital health programs, such as cancer screenings, opioid treatments, mental health services, early childhood intervention, domestic violence programs and pre- or post-natal care.

Learn more about the Coalition to Protect Patient Safety atwww.ProtectPatientSafety.com, www.Facebook.com/ProtectPatientSafety and www.Twitter.com/MAPatientSafety.

羅德島華人協會夏日郊遊 8/11 舉行

波士頓中秋節聯歡會 8/12 舉行

華裔美國總統候選人楊安澤二度訪波宣講理念 (圖片)

常熟波士頓科技創新中心揭牌(圖片)

波士頓史上首名非洲裔警察局長宣誓就任 (圖片)

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)親自主持宣誓就任儀式，
William Gross成為歷史上首名非洲裔波士頓警察局局長。(周菊子攝)

 

波士頓市警察局歷任前局長。(周菊子攝)

Baker‐Polito Administration Helps Cities and Towns Upgrade Road-Stream Crossings

Baker‐Polito Administration Helps Cities and Towns Upgrade Road-Stream Crossings

Projects Will Improve River Health and Increase Community Resilience to Climate Change



PALMER – The Baker‐Polito Administration today announced $750,000 in awards to support local culvert replacement projects that improve municipal infrastructure and river health. The grants are provided by the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) through its Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance grant program, and are intended to strengthen community preparedness for large storm events, protect fisheries and river habitats, and promote smart investments in climate-ready infrastructure.



“Replacing important infrastructure like culverts is a critical component of public safety and preparing for climate change,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is proud to support cities and towns across the Commonwealth making important investments in culvert projects that will make their roads safer, while protecting natural habitats.”



“Cities and towns across Massachusetts are already working hard to safeguard their residents, economies and environmental resources from the impacts of climate change,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program’s funding and technical assistance helps cities and towns complete important infrastructure upgrades that will connect critical river and wetland habitats and support storm readiness.”



Nearly half of Massachusetts’ estimated 30,000 culverts act as barriers to fish and wildlife because they are undersized and/or poorly positioned. Undersized culverts can also present a serious risk to public safety. As high-intensity rainfall becomes more frequent and severe due to climate change, culvert bottlenecks can cause flood waters to overtop roads, resulting in washouts and road closures.



Installing culverts that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards allows rivers to flow unrestricted and with lower risk of flood damage. Recent studies have found that culverts designed to meet these standards are often less expensive than in‐kind culvert replacements over the lifespan of the structure. The purpose of DER’s Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program is to encourage and help municipalities to replace existing culverts with crossings that meet improved design standards for fish and wildlife passage, river health, and storm resiliency.



“Flooding and aging infrastructure are two of the most serious challenges facing cities and towns across the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “Through this grant program, we are partnering with communities across the state to help municipal road managers fix deteriorating infrastructure while reducing public safety risks and supporting wildlife in rivers, streams and wetland habitats.”



“River restoration through culvert replacement provides multiple benefits to fish and wildlife, including improved water quality, expanded habitat for aquatic life, and improved fisheries for local anglers,” said Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Ron Amidon.



The following 13 projects were awarded grants through the 2018 Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grants Program:



Buckland - $91,000: The Town of Buckland will conduct field data collection, engineering and design, and permitting for a culvert replacement on Clark Brook. Replacing the culvert will provide passage for fish and wildlife and improve Buckland’s public safety by maintaining access for emergency and residential services to nearby homes.



Colrain ‐ $150,000: The Town of Colrain will construct a 12-ft open-bottom culvert on a tributary to the North River. Replacing the existing undersized culvert will provide passage for fish and wildlife, and improve Colrain’s infrastructure by reducing the risk of culvert failure.



Dighton - $92,346: The City of Dighton will conduct field data collection and analysis, design and engineering, and permitting for a culvert replacement on Sunken Brook. Upgrading the culvert will reduce runoff and erosion, improve crossings for wildlife, and reduce public safety and flooding hazard risks.



Fall River - $35,000: The City of Fall River will conduct field data collection and analysis for a culvert replacement project on Middle Brook. Replacing these culverts will improve fish and wildlife passage and Fall River’s infrastructure and storm resilience.



Granville - $25,000: The Town of Granville will conduct field data collection and analysis for a culvert replacement project on Phelon Brook. Replacing this road-stream crossing will improve fish passage and Granville’s infrastructure, as well as protect the City of Springfield’s downstream drinking water supply.



Ipswich - $29,000: The Town of Ipswich will conduct field data collection and analysis for a culvert replacement project on Gravelly Brook. Replacing the culvert will provide passage for fish and wildlife and will improve Ipswich’s infrastructure resilience and reduce maintenance costs.



Northampton - $65,250: The City of Northampton will conduct field data collection and analysis, and engineering and design for a culvert replacement on a tributary to Bassett Brook. The stream crossing upgrade will improve stream habitat, increase flood resilience, and reduce safety risks and infrastructure maintenance.



Palmer - $34,000: The Town of Palmer will conduct field data collection, engineering and design, and permitting for a culvert replacement on a tributary to the Ware River. Upgrading the crossing will improve water quality, stream habitat, and Palmer’s infrastructure and storm resilience, and reduce the threat of storm damage to the primary access between the MassPike and Bondsville Industrial Park and UMass Amherst.



Princeton ‐ $22,513: The Town of Princeton will finalize design, engineering, and permitting for a culvert replacement on the South Wachusett Brook. Replacing the culvert will provide passage for fish and wildlife and improve Princeton’s infrastructure and storm resilience by reducing flood impacts.



Stockbridge - $46,000: The Town of Stockbridge will conduct field data collection and analysis for a culvert replacement on Marsh Brook. Replacing the culvert will provide fish and wildlife passage, and will improve Sheffield’s infrastructure and storm resilience by reducing flood impacts and maintaining access to Tanglewood – the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.



Tyngsborough - $45,000: The Town of Tyngsborough will conduct field data collection and analysis and preliminary engineering for a culvert replacement on Bridge Meadow Brook. Replacing the culvert will provide fish and wildlife passage, and will improve Tyngsborough’s infrastructure and storm resilience by maintaining access to emergency shelters and community services.



Ware - $37,300: The Town of Ware will conduct field data collection, engineering

and design, and permitting for a culvert replacement on a tributary to Flat Brook. Replacing the culvert will provide passage for fish and wildlife and will improve Ware’s flood resiliency and reduce maintenance costs.



Windsor - $77,591: The Town of Windsor will conduct field data collection and analysis, design and engineering, and permitting for a culvert replacement on a tributary to the East Branch of the Westfield River. Replacing the culvert will provide passage for resident brook trout and other fish and wildlife species, enhance public safety and increase storm resiliency.

The statewide Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program is supported by DER’s Capital Budget.  The New England Forests and Rivers Fund administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service is providing support to DER for grant development and technical assistance for projects located in the Deerfield River Watershed.



“Our towns and highway departments spend a lot of time and money dealing with faulty culverts and the negative effects on public safety, water quality and aquatic life,” said State Senator Anne Gobi, Co-Chair of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (D-Spencer).  “These grants provide necessary funding to alleviate many problems, I am glad to support funding and to work with the administration on these projects."



“I would like to thank the Baker-Polito Administration for their continued support of communities like Palmer and Ware,” said State Representative Todd Smola (R-Warren). "These projects will not only improve fish and wildlife habitats but also safeguard local roads and infrastructure."



“Thank you to the Mass Department of Fish and Game for providing this funding to the Town of Ware,” said State Representative Donald Berthiaume (R-Spencer). “This grant will help Ware continue to repair its infrastructure at the same time it’s solving ecological issues in this area.”



“I’m very pleased that Dighton will be receiving this $92,346 Culvert Municipal Assistance Grant,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton). “These funds will help the town upgrade the Brigg Street culverts and create a plan to manage and prevent future erosion.  As the global climate crisis continues to affect our state, funds such as these will be vital resources for local communities in the Commonwealth.  I’d like to thank everyone involved in the grant process and look forward to seeing the program’s positive results in our district.”



“The Briggs Street project has long been necessary and is a very important endeavor,” said State Representative Patricia A. Haddad, Speaker Pro Tempore (D-Somerset). “The town of Dighton often experiences flooding and run-off issues and this much-needed grant will aid in controlling problems while being sensitive to the ecosystem within the Taunton watershed.”



The mission of the Division of Ecological Restoration is to restore and protect the Commonwealth’s rivers, wetlands and watersheds for the benefit of people and the environment. DER’s Stream Continuity Program helps municipalities replace undersized culverts with better designed structures that meet ecological and public safety criteria, ultimately resulting in improvements to stream connectivity and a reduction in roadway and flood hazards.



The Department of Fish and Game (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.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF CITY AS CLASSROOM EFFORTS WITH LAUNCH OF BOSTON DESIGN ACADEMY

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF CITY AS CLASSROOM EFFORTS WITH LAUNCH OF BOSTON DESIGN ACADEMY

BOSTON - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh, together with the City's Education Cabinet, the Timothy Smith Network (TSN), and the Boston Public Library, announced today the launch of the Boston Design Academy (BDA), a city-sponsored pilot designed to prepare Boston youth for careers in Boston's growing design economy. The programs began earlier this summer and will publicly launch at the Boston Public Library on Thursday, August 9. "I'm excited to announce an initiative that will provide our future leaders, innovators, and engineers with the tools to explore and create through STEAM learning," said Mayor Walsh. "Our students are familiarizing themselves with the most advanced technology available, and with the help of many of our committed partners, students will be prepared to enter the workforce with the experience and skills needed to succeed." Developed in collaboration with TSN as a lead partner, its affiliate Mbadika, and with the engagement of area industry leaders such as Microsoft, MassRobotics and Autodesk, Inc., the Boston Design Academy is an immersive six-week summer program for 25 students from TechBoston Academy. Over the course of the six weeks, BDA students will focus on product design and development while exploring STEAM-science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics-subject matter. Design experts from a variety of professions work with students and provide feedback on their designs. "For the last several years, the City, BPS and schools around the city have worked to redesign the high school learning experience in ways that make it more rigorous, take learning into community settings and allow students to learn about the things most aligned with their passions," said Boston's Chief of Education, Rahn Dorsey.  "The Boston Design Academy pilot is an example of the types of programming that we would like to see featured in future high school curricula and that we believe will increase post-secondary and career readiness among Boston students." "The Boston Design Academy is offering education and training in the design field that is not readily available or accessible to youth," said Milton Irving, Executive Director of Timothy Smith Network. "By working with experienced professionals and tools of the trade, we are preparing them to enter the future of work." On a typical day, students are presented with a design challenge and asked to use product design methods and tools to solve the challenge.  Each BDA student is assigned a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop with the latest professional design software, including Autodesk Fusion 360 and SketchBook, among others. At each step of the way, students integrate STEAM concepts and principles, and have the opportunity to visit local tech hotspots, including Microsoft's newly opened Garage, in order to complete their real-world design projects.   BDA is hosted at the Teen Central and historical archive spaces of the Boston Public Library's Central Library in Copley Square. BPL's modern Teen Central offers a media lounge, digital makerspace, diner-style seating, space for quiet study, and a large, diverse collections of books and more, and is a unique space for young people to learn in. Its central location also allows students daily opportunities learning from professionals who work in the area. "Boston Public Library is thrilled to host the Boston Design Academy program in Teen Central this summer; this challenging and fun curriculum will equip youth with highly desired skills that may lead to further study and exciting career possibilities in the technology and design fields," said David Leonard, Boston Public Library President. "It is great to see this new project emerge from our longstanding relationship with the Timothy Smith Network. We hope this is the first of many new partnership opportunities with BDA and the City of Boston's Education Department's 'City as a Classroom initiative.'" "Boston Design Academy equips students to apply academic learning to solve authentic challenges. Our next step as a school is to build on this experience to deepen classroom learning and connections to STEM careers," said TechBoston Academy Headmaster Keith Love.  "We want to thank the Education Cabinet and BDA partners." Another key City as a Classroom endeavor is the Autodesk Teacher Design Fellow initiatives. The program, which is now in its second year, has sponsored 30 three-week educator externships for teachers.  The 2018 cohort, consisting of teachers from Brighton High and Excel High, will be presenting at the Boston Design Academy along with BDA students at the Central LibraryMcKim building lower level A conference room on August 9 at 11:00 a.m.

AG HEALEY, LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS: PRINTING GUNS IS ILLEGAL AND A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY RISK

AG HEALEY, LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS: PRINTING GUNS IS ILLEGAL AND A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY RISK

AG Issues Public Safety Notice with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Chiefs of Police Association, Major City Chiefs of Police, and the District Attorneys Association

BOSTON – After winning a federal court order blocking the Trump Administration from allowing the publication of plans for downloadable 3D-printed weapons, Attorney General Maura Healey today joined with her law enforcement partners in issuing a public safety notice that details the serious violations of state law arising from the creation of these undetectable guns.

The notice, issued jointly with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police, and Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, is in response to a recent U.S. Department of State settlement, challenged by AG Healey, that would allow the company Defense Distributed to post files online that enable individuals to print firearms using 3D printers.

The public safety notice serves as a reminder that the creation, transfer, or possession of a weapon made with a 3D printer can subject an individual to serious criminal or civil liability under Massachusetts law.

“For years, the State Department correctly argued that making plans for 3D-printed guns available for anyone to download—including criminals and terrorists—would be a major threat to national security and public safety,” said AG Healey. “These 3D-printed weapons will be used to evade Massachusetts’ strong gun laws, and my office and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to keep deadly homemade weapons off our streets and out of our schools.”

“Law enforcement in Massachusetts works very hard to make sure that firearms don’t fall into the hands of the wrong people: gang members, terrorists, or those with a history of committing violent crimes,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett. “We need to be vigilant to make sure this new technology doesn’t let these people evade the strong laws that protect the Commonwealth from gun violence.”

“Firearms built using 3D-printing technology are powerful, deadly weapons that could fall into the hands of dangerous individuals and pose serious safety risks for the public,” said Chief Brian Kyes, President of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police. “We’re joining the AG’s Office to remind the public that unregulated, unregistered and untraceable 3D-printed weapons violate state law and carry serious criminal and civil consequences.”

“Weapons built with 3D printers evade state gun laws and make it even more challenging for law enforcement to do their jobs keeping the public safe,”said Chief Steve Wojnar, President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. “These firearms pose a unique and serious threat, and we are joining Attorney General Maura Healey in issuing this notice to make sure Massachusetts residents know we are committed to protecting our communities and keeping these undetectable guns off the streets.”  

According to the notice, the state laws potentially implicated by the creation of a weapon using 3D printing include: 

           

·         Plastic Weapons: Weapons made exclusively from plastic or that otherwise cannot be detected by an x-ray machine or walk-through metal detector are unlawful, and cannot be sold, transferred, or possessed.

·         License Requirement: An appropriate state-issued license is required to possess or carry a weapon; sell, rent, or lease a weapon; and possess or purchase ammunition.

·         Reporting of Sales: Sales and other transfers of weapons must generally be reported to the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services by the transferee at the Massachusetts Gun Transaction Portal on the Internet, unless the weapon is purchased from a licensed dealer. The information required includes the caliber, make, and serial number of the weapon.

·         Safety Requirements: Only firearms that are on the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s approved firearms roster may be sold. Currently, no firearms made with 3D printing technology are approved for sale in Massachusetts.

·         Safe Storage: All weapons must be securely stored using a device approved by the Colonel of the State Police. There are enhanced penalties for weapons left unsecured around children.

·         Assault Weapons: The sale, transfer, or possession of any “assault weapon” is prohibited. Any weapon that meets the definition of an “assault weapon” under Massachusetts law, whether made in whole or in part out of plastic, is prohibited.

The multistate lawsuit AG Healey announced last week seeking to stop the Department of State’s action allowing firearms built using 3D printing technology won a temporary injunction from a federal judge in Seattle. AG Healey also led a multistate letter of 21 state attorneys general last week urging U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to withdraw from this settlement, writing that these actions recklessly disregard public safety.

The Department of State recently agreed to amend federal rules regulating the export of weapons on the United States Munitions List. The proposed rules would allow information about certain military weapons such as semi-automatic firearms, previously considered critical to national security and public safety, to be uploaded to the Internet.

The attorneys general argue that the Department of State’s settlement will facilitate violations of state and federal law and create unprecedented risks to public safety, allowing terrorists, transnational criminals, convicted felons, and individuals otherwise prohibited by federal and state laws from purchasing, manufacturing, selling, and possessing firearms to have unrestricted access to computer designs for unsafe, undetectable and untraceable firearms.

GBCCA國樂團9/8甄選新團員

      (Boston Orange)大波士頓區中華文化協會青少年國樂團為儲備國樂人才,定於九月八日(星期六) ,自下午一點至三點在文協活動中心 (437 Cherry Street, W. Newton, MA 02465) 甄試新團員。

凡對各類國樂器包括1.拉弦：高胡,中胡,二胡,大提琴及低音大提琴2.彈弦：琵琶,中阮,大阮,柳琴, 揚琴 3.吹管：笛子,笙,嗩吶

4.打擊樂等具有演奏能力者,歡迎參加甄試。

甄試項目包括：1.自選曲獨奏 2.音階（所有考生需要演奏兩個大調音階）3.視奏4.節奏感測驗。除打擊外,請參加甄試者自備樂器。甄試活動免費, 請上網下載報名:http://www.chinesemusicensemble.com,under“Contact。

詳情請電歐陽東美 (978)369-6656 或tungmeipan@hotmail.com以便安排甄試時間。

文協成人國樂團亦歡迎會演奏中國樂器的朋友加入。請聯絡潘台春 (978)369-6656 或taichunpan@hotmail.com。(文稿由文協國樂團提供)

羅德島龍舟賽暨臺灣日9/8舉行 台灣青年首度組隊參賽

台灣隊員練習划龍舟。

                       (Boston Orange)駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處與羅德島州黑石谷旅遊局聯合舉辦的「2018年羅德島州龍舟賽暨臺灣日節慶」將於9月8日（週六）上午9時至下午4時在羅州普塔吉市（Pawtucket）普塔吉河畔（Pawtucket River）舉行（地點：Festival Pier, Pawtucket, RI 02860），歡迎大家前往觀賞龍舟賽、跳繩、吃餃子與吃西瓜比賽、欣賞中華民俗技藝表演、體驗台灣童玩與手工藝創作。

擠進新英格蘭首個台灣龍舟隊的英勇隊員們。

                      今年活動獎項豐富，當天一般划龍舟比賽頭獎為美金5千元，跳繩比賽頭獎為中華航空提供的紐約/舊金山/洛杉磯-臺北來回機票1張，吃餃子大賽頭獎為長榮航空提供的紐約-臺北來回機票1張，歡迎各界人士及僑胞共襄盛舉。

                    該活動全天並有民俗舞蹈表演及手工技藝展示與臺灣美食。羅州台灣日節慶已進入第19年，主要希望藉此增進主流社會人士對台灣文化的瞭解，促進雙方交流與情誼，歡迎僑胞踴躍參加。前述相關活動可至該旅遊局網站：www.dragonboat.ri.com或電話：401-724-2200查詢。(圖文均由波士頓經文處提供)

Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation Announces $1.7 Million In Targeted Grants To Advance Women

Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation Announces $1.7 Million In Targeted Grants To Advance WomenGrants Support 170 Organizations In Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island 

BOSTON, August 7, 2018 – Eastern Bank, America’s oldest and largest mutual bank, today announced $1.7 million has been granted to non-profit organizations focused on the advancement of women. Each year, the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation’s Targeted Grant program supports hundreds of community-based organizations working for progress on a specific issue in Eastern’s New England footprint. In 2018, in celebration of the Bank’s 200th anniversary and to honor its first depositor, Rebecca Sutton, Targeted Grants have been designated to support organizations addressing a range of issues that disproportionately impact women, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, health care, pay equity, and senior management and board representation.

“We believe in breaking down the barriers that stand between people and prosperity. That’s why Eastern is a strong advocate for the advancement of women,” said Bob Rivers, Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank. “With each Targeted Grant, we aim to enhance the lives of our neighbors and contribute to real progress around the advancement of women in our local communities. On behalf of everyone at Eastern, we congratulate this year’s Targeted Grant recipients and thank them for working to level the playing field.” 

This year’s Targeted Grant program creates new opportunities and resources for women in areas where assistance is needed the most. The facts are staggering:- A woman is assaulted every nine seconds in the U.S. and one in three women has been a victim of physical brutality by an intimate partner, making intimate partner violence the single greatest cause of injury to women. 
- In Massachusetts, women earn 83 cents for every dollar paid to men. In New Hampshire, they earn 76 cents. African-American women nationwide earn 64 cents for every dollar earned by white men, and Latinas—only 56 cents. 
- In the sciences, women represent less than 25% of those employed in computer and mathematical occupations and only 15% in architecture and engineering. For women of color, this gap is even wider. Asian women, African-American women, and Latinas make up less than 10% of working scientists and engineers in the U.S. 
- Women receive more graduate degrees and they hold more faculty positions in colleges and universities, and yet, men hold the highest number of tenured university positions. 
- Only 32 women run Fortune 500 companies and only two are women of color. Less than 20% of all board seats in Fortune 1,000 companies are held by women. 
Eastern Bank’s Targeted Grants are awarded at $10,000 each to 170 nonprofits in communities from New Hampshire to Cape Cod and throughout the South Shore, North Shore, Metro West, Merrimack Valley and Greater Boston. For a complete list of the 2018 Targeted Grant recipients, click here.

As part of its effort to support the advancement of women and in addition to the Targeted Grants, Eastern Bank recently announced world champion, gold medal gymnast and ambassador for change, Aly Raisman, as its newest Partner For Good. Raisman’s advocacy has given rise to a movement to help end sexual abuse in youth sports. As part of the partnership, Eastern Bank will support her #FlipTheSwitch initiative with Darkness to Light to help end sexual abuse by providing its employees with the leading, evidence-informed child sexual abuse prevention training program –Stewards of Children®. 

HSBC TO PAY $26.8 MILLION FOR SECURITIZATION OF SUBPRIME MORTGAGES

HSBC TO PAY $26.8 MILLION FOR SECURITIZATION OF SUBPRIME MORTGAGES

Hundreds of Borrowers Will Directly Benefit From Settlement; AG’s Office has Secured More than $375 Million from Wall Street Securitization Firms

            BOSTON – HSBC Securities (HSBC) will pay $26.8 million to settle allegations that it purchased and securitized unfair residential mortgage loans in violation of Massachusetts law, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Today’s case follows others brought by the AG’s Office against investment giants Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Scotland, Countrywide Securities, JPMorgan, and Citibank regarding their roles in the subprime lending crisis. In pursuing these cases, the AG’s Office has recovered more than $375 million, including relief for thousands of residents across the state, in connection with securitization claims.

“HSBC’s securitization practices contributed to a financial crisis that deeply harmed Massachusetts communities and caused families to lose their homes,” AG Healey said. “We will continue to help consumers who were sold toxic mortgages by these banking institutions and are pleased that this settlement will provide significant relief for families that have suffered harm from unsustainable subprime loans.”

While HSBC did not originate the subprime loans in this case, it did purchase these loans from subprime lenders and securitize them. As noted in the assurance of discontinuance, filed Friday in Suffolk Superior Court, the AG’s Office alleges that many of these loans were presumptively unfair under Massachusetts law because they had debt-to-income ratios over 50 percent, included substantial prepayment penalties, had loan-to-value ratios over 97 percent, and included other problematic features.

Under the terms of the settlement, HSBC will pay a $5 million penalty to the Commonwealth and compensate governmental entities that allegedly suffered harm from HSBC’s actions, including cities and towns that incurred extra expenses due to the foreclosures caused by the unfair loans, such as Brockton, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Springfield, and Worcester. The remaining $20 million will be made available to eligible homeowners for principal reductions and related payments on the loans of eligible consumers and to assist borrowers who suffered foreclosure. 

Approximately 60 homeowners are eligible to receive payments in Middlesex and Worcester counties under the HSBC settlement. Approximately 50 homeowners are eligible to receive payments in Essex county. Approximately 25 homeowners are eligible to receive payments in Bristol, Hampshire, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties. Eligible consumers will receive a notice from the Office of the Attorney General. Homeowners with questions should contact Attorney General’s Insurance and Financial Services Hotline at 1-888-830-6277.

The HSBC case was handled by the staff of Attorney General Maura Healey’s Insurance and Financial Services Division, including Brook Kellerman, Burt Feinberg, Madonna Cournoyer, Peter Leight, Lilia DuBois, Diane Prend, and Glenn Kaplan.

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