MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES BOSTON TO OFFER RESIDENTS WEEKEND CURBSIDE TEXTILE COLLECTION

 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES BOSTON TO OFFER RESIDENTS WEEKEND CURBSIDE TEXTILE COLLECTION  Program builds on the already 30 textile dropbox locations across the City

BOSTON - Friday, February 11, 2022 - Building on the success of the neighborhood textile dropbox program, Mayor Michelle Wu announced today that the City of Boston will begin offering weekend curbside collection of household textiles at no cost to residents. The Boston Public Works Department has again partnered with Northeast textile recycling company, Helpsy, which will coordinate pick-ups across the city.       “Bringing a curbside textile recycling program to Boston is an important step towards making waste reduction practices equitable and accessible for all our residents,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “By empowering our residents to take bold action against climate change and finding innovative and convenient ways to recycle, we’re creating a cleaner, more sustainable city for future generations to come.”  Residents looking to schedule a pick-up can simply fill-out an online request form at boston.gov/textiles. Once a date is scheduled and confirmed, household textiles should be left on the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled pick-up day. Textiles should be clean, dry, and properly bagged to allow for a quick pick-up for Helpsy drivers. Acceptable textile items include dresses, shirts, pants, suits, coats, towels, bedding, costumes, curtains, placements, tablecloths and throw rugs. Items that will not be accepted include breakable houseware or glass, electronics, furniture, construction materiel, scrap metal, appliances, mattresses, books or magazines.  Once household textiles are collected, sorted and graded, 95 percent will be reused, upcycled, or recycled. The higher grades are resold to thrift stores in North America and other second hand markets around the world. The lower grades get turned into rags for industrial use or alternative functions like stuffing or insulation. In just the last year, Helpsy has collected and processed over 30 million pounds of textiles from the Northeast region. Of that, 5 million pounds were generated from the Greater Boston area.  “The City of Boston is always looking for new and creative ways to expand recycling services to our residents,“ stated Superintendent of Waste Reduction, Brian Coughlin. “We not only want to provide convenient programs that work for everyone, but also educate residents on why and how these programs will assist in our ultimate goal of becoming a zero waste city.”  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, textile waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the United States, occupying nearly 5 percent of all landfill space. As a country, the U.S. throws away 36 billion pounds of textiles each year, nearly 100 pounds per person. Of those discarded textiles, currently only 15 percent is recycled, whereas 95 percent could be.   Along with weekend curbside collection, residents can also drop off their textiles at 30 dropbox locations across the city. Dropboxes are located at city owned municipal lots, as well as Boston Public School and Boston Housing Authority locations. You can find a full list of locations and accepted items here.   The City of Boston continues to encourage residents to utilize tools like the City’s free “Trash Day” app. The app enables Boston residents to search a directory of hundreds of household items to find out the right way to dispose of them while on the go or at home. App users can also view a calendar for their home’s collection dates, set reminders, and get notifications of schedule changes to service. Boston residents can also safely dispose of hazardous waste, shred unwanted documents, discard textiles and recycle electronics for free at a series of Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off events.  These programs build on Boston’s Zero Waste Plan, which includes 30 near- and long-term strategies to divert at least 80 percent of the City’s waste from landfills and municipal solid waste combustors by 2035. Key pieces of the plan include expanding Boston’s composting program, increasing access to recycling opportunities and launching a city-wide education campaign on recycling. Greenhouse gas emissions from waste disposal is equivalent to approximately six percent of Boston’s overall emissions. By reducing waste, recycling more, and composting, Boston can reduce emissions associated with waste and move one step closer to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, outlined in the City’s 2019 Climate Action Plan update.  While reducing emissions, the City is working to prepare for sea level rise and the impacts of climate change. Climate Ready Boston is the City's initiative to prepare for the short and long term impacts of climate change. In addition to citywide climate resilience plans, the City has created neighborhood-level coastal resilience plans for areas most vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal storms, including East Boston, Charlestown, South Boston, North End, Downtown, and Dorchester.  This expansion reinforces the Wu Administration’s commitment to a Boston Green New Deal and creating sustainable recycling and waste disposal resources. Additionally, Mayor Wu signed an ordinance to divest City-funds from the fossil fuel, tobacco, and private prison industries. Mayor Wu also announced new, lower community choice electricity rates and outlined steps to reduce vehicle emissions and electrify the City fleet. Mayor Wu additionally announced the launch of the two-year fare-free program on MBTA bus Routes 23, 28, and 29 on March 1, 2022.

吳弭市長堅持波士頓市維持戴口罩規定

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州的幼稚園到12年級學校在2月28日以後，學生上學不需要戴口罩了。波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)說，波士頓市的學校還得繼續戴口罩。

             吳弭市長說，儘管新冠病毒變種奧米克戎 (Omicron) 的個案激增已經趨緩，但是許多兒童還沒打疫苗，謹慎一點比較好。

             吳弭說，「我不會假設我知道，州長的計算應該怎麼做或可以怎麼做」，「我知道的是波士頓市還沒為取消戴口罩規定做好準備。所以波士頓市會暫時維持戴口罩規定」。

             波士頓市在10日這天，也宣佈了和波士頓教師工會達成協議，准許教師以定期檢測取代注射疫苗，但是只能在病毒傳染低的期間可以這麼做。在其他時候，沒接種疫苗的老師們就不能回校上課，得動用他們自己的累積假期，或者停薪休假。

             這一協議，對吳弭來說，意味著在解決持續尖銳化的勞工爭議上有了進展，卻也同時意味著她從以指標為準，不容許以檢測為替代選項的最初規定，做了重大退讓。

             總的來說，這決定彰顯了在病毒大流行持續2年，政府領導治理需要不斷因應情況，是多麼有挑戰性。吳弭的行動也讓人看見，在病毒走向持續不穩定中，市政府領導所面對的公共衛生及政治等等的無數壓力。

             以學校戴口罩的規定來說，麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 走在一些市鎮領導，以及醫生和家長之前，放寬了規定。在規定接種疫苗上，吳弭變得沒那麼嚴格。查理貝克的要求州政府行政部門員工接種疫苗規定，不准以檢測代替接種。

             吳弭對學校的戴口罩規定，仰賴的是大家熟悉的指標。吳弭說要看檢測陽性的比率，有多少人住院，以及重症病房的佔用率。

             吳弭說，波士頓市公共衛生局決定需要看到這些數目持續下降，而不是上上下下。她知道那對整個學校社區來說都非常具有挑戰性。

             2月9日時，吳弭和市長的青年協會 (Mayor’s Youth Council)成員晤談，問這一群高中學生，他們認為波士頓市的戴口罩規定，應不應該再2月28日以後繼續執行。

             吳弭在推特上分享了一張照片，幾乎所有這些學生都舉手贊成繼續戴口罩。

             波士頓拉丁學校的Tiffany Luo說，她很高興戴口罩規定會繼續，尤其是她看著朋友、同學即使已接種疫苗，戴了口罩，還是感染了奧米克戎變種病毒之後。和2名有感染高風險者同住的她說，「如果我沒有戴口罩，我會覺得更不安全」。「我會更焦慮」。

             在波士頓維持戴口罩規定之際，一些郊外學區做了相反選擇，要求州政府准他們更早取消這規定。霍普金頓 (Hopkinton) , 衛斯伯洛夫 (Westborough)，諾維爾 (Norwell) 等高中，以及Wrentham鎮的菲利普國王區域(King Philip Regional)高中，在申請豁免之後，已經不要求學生戴口罩了。波士頓羅馬天主教總教區9日說，2月28日起，將取消其麾下所有教區學校的戴口罩規定。

             在幾個第一線工作人員工會提起的法律挑戰中，法院暫時禁止波士頓市執行戴口罩規定。不過波士頓市打算在該暫時令取消時，開始執行原訂政策，讓未接種疫苗的員工留職停薪。

             教師工會和波士頓市府達成的協議，保護了未接種疫苗的會員們，只要她們遵循一週2次的檢測規定，就不致於被解雇。不過其他的未接種疫苗市府員工，如果他們的所屬工會沒有和波士頓市政府達成類似協議，就可能面對解雇命運。

             波士頓市18000名多的市府員工，絕大部分已接種疫苗。波士頓教師工會本週也表示，在8403名工會成員中，只有367名教育者還未接種疫苗。

             波士頓市的4大公安工會，波士頓消防員本地718分會，波士頓警察主管聯盟(Boston Police Superior Officers Federation)，波士頓警探慈善會 (Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society)，以及波士頓巡邏警察協會(Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association)在9日發了一封公開信給吳弭市長，表示他們對波士頓市政府在協商時，又延期，又取消會談的處理過程感到非常失望。

             在吳弭接任市長之初，工會為戴口罩規定反應激烈，抗議人士不但跟著吳弭，把抗議聲音帶到各個場合，還每天早上在吳弭家門外吹號敲鼓的抗議。

             不過10號早上，在吳弭家門外，只有大多數是退休人士的支持者，靜靜地站在那兒。抗議人士沒出現。

             一名支持者的標語牌寫著，”謝謝你，吳市長，謝謝你的支持工作人員健康與安全”。

波士頓慈濟人文學校慶虎年新春 竹筒回娘家賑濟災民

波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏(右一)和財神一起發壓歲紅包給全校師生。波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(後右四)拱手拜年。(慈濟人文學校提供)

波士頓慈濟人文學校竹筒回娘家，濟助中西部風災難民。(慈濟人文學校提供)

    (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 波士頓慈濟人文學校慶祝壬寅虎年，2月6日舉辦春節聯歡會。各年級學生輪番表演，校長彭淑敏請財神發壓歲紅包給全校師生，邀波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮即席揮毫，一同祝禱「一元復始、萬象更新」。

             在美國過農曆新年，不容易營造氣氛，波士頓慈濟人文學校這天不但刻意布置一番，準備了橘（吉）、梨（利）和發糕，祝老師們大吉大利發發發，還以及舞獅，財神爺發紅包，給人好意頭的喜氣洋洋感覺。

波士頓慈濟人文學校的老師以新春剪紙，擺出年節氣氛。(慈濟人文學校提供)

            會場內安排有寫春聯，寫春字，剪立體春，做燈籠，拓印虎年板畫，剪紙教學，拍全家福照片等親子活動，不斷播放著2021年全球慈濟大藏經，慈濟波士頓大藏經，要讓更多人知道，過去這一年來，慈濟在全球各地以及大波士頓的努力耕耘足跡，藉以鼓勵人感恩自己平安度過一年，也轉身幫助有需要的人。

             在強調年節氣氛中，慈濟各年級學生都準備了與年有關的活動。

           幼中班學生唱唸「新年到，穿新衣，戴新帽，大街上，放鞭炮，舞龍舞獅真熱鬧...」的歌謠，幼大班學說吉祥話，做獅臉面具，為恭喜發財字樣著色，一年級學生聽老師講解辦年貨，大掃除，年夜飯等習俗，以及吉祥話和春節食物的關聯。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮即席揮毫。(慈濟人文學校提供)

           二年級由老師以「年的故事」為開頭，設了摺紙，做燈籠和寫書法的3個攤位。三年級學生在老師引導下學習如何張貼春聯，以及春聯上下聯和橫批的分別。四年級學生以鋼琴、小提琴，大提琴演奏「恭喜、恭喜」。五年級學生表演才藝。六年級學生即席錄製「新年好」歌曲，動手做金元寶。八、九年級學生寫書法「虎」字。

             慈濟人文學校和其他中文學校在慶祝農曆新年時的最大差別在，慈濟有「全校竹筒回娘家」環節。所有慈濟學生們在這天把自己平日攢下來，存進竹筒的零錢，都帶回學校，捐了出來，藉由慈濟匯集善心，善念，善款，傳遞大愛。今年，這些回娘家的竹筒錢都捐給賑災專案，濟助去年冬天美國中西部刮颶風的受災民眾

波士頓慈濟不畏疫情 賑災、服務默默行

波士頓慈濟新春小團聚，左起李豐、陳裕逢、蔣宗壬、長金滿、潘昭榮，張桂英、
李佩屏等人。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 寒冬賑災送暖。慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處行善腳步不停，2月5日組隊前往Sailsbury關懷火災受難戶，2月9日在波士頓華埠服務站新春小團聚，鼓勵有需要的民眾，隨時致電聯繫，或每週二、三、六親臨洽談。

慈濟波士頓聯絡處負責人長金滿(中)和慈濟波士頓華埠服務站的聯絡人陳裕逢(右)，
李豐(左)。(周菊子攝)

              慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處負責人長金滿表示，新冠病毒疫情逼使該處減少了許多會所活動，但賑災、做善事是慈濟的使命，那兒有需要，慈濟人就會匯聚力量往那兒去。波士頓華埠服務站目前由陳裕逢，李豐2人負責輪值，調配，因應地方民眾需求，就地接待，或提供代看信件等服務。他們也將在天氣轉暖後，重新開始清掃華埠，鼓勵環保節能行動。

波士頓僑教中心特地送上"福運旺來"的春聯，以及虎年燈籠，給慈濟增添喜氣。
(周菊子攝)

              長金滿並透露，經由聯合國全球和平發展基金會董事長楊愛倫爭取的 CDC 聯邦經費，慈濟基金會將每週一次，為志工免費提供準確度高達99.7%的 PCR 新冠核酸檢測。波士頓慈濟已收到50多份美國製造的檢測劑，這週末就可發給掃描二維碼預先登記的志工。

              賑濟火災受難戶這事則源於1月17日，麻州東北方郊區小鎮Sailsbury在凌晨1點45分，突然失火。當天氣溫太低，風勢強勁，風速高達每小時20到30英里，火苗迅速蔓延，一下子就燒成9級火警，包括「麥可的海邊汽車旅館 (Michael’s Oceanfront Motel)」，1棟有12戶居民的公寓樓宇，以及3棟民房，一下子就捲入熊熊火舌中，麻州和鄰近新罕布夏州的30多個消防局共出動了100名消防員，30輛消防車，奔往滅火。

              最後火是滅了，還幸運的無人傷亡，但是那5棟房屋卻都夷為平地，共24戶36人瞬間無家可歸。

              這些災民，一部分由紅十字會安排住進聚火災地點約5分鐘車程的Knolly Pine 汽車旅館，一部分人去了自己的親友家暫住。

慈濟基金會今年的年曆以"一道屬光"來貸給人們希望。(周菊子攝)

              麻州急難救助局 (MEMA)當天迅速行動，邀集紅十字會、救世軍、房屋局，以及慈濟波士頓聯絡處，到Sailsbury老人中心，瞭解、探詢災民的需要。其中有13戶人家向慈濟求助，紅十字會也轉介了13名災民，請慈濟訪談需要。

              波士頓慈濟匯整資訊，張羅籌備後，原定1月29日探訪受災戶，發放物資及賑濟金，沒想到卻遇上風速每小時50到60英里，降雪20多到30英吋的大風雪，只得延至2月5日，由9名志工在攝氏零下5度中，開著2輛廂型車，載滿物資，到Sailsbury的老人中心，和其他11名志工會合，把金額從300到1000元不等，總值9900元的21張現金卡，以及20條環保毛毯，32條環保圍巾，20何靜思薄餅等物資，送到受災戶手中。

             

波士頓慈濟志工到Sailsbury發放物資，賑濟火災受難戶。(慈濟提供)

在發放救災物資時，慈濟志工們也不忘親切慰問，給受災戶們一個關懷滿滿的大擁抱，鼓勵他們積極面對人生。

              有一位災民的遭遇最是讓人唏噓。他年僅半百，卻遭遇過3次大火，每次都燒到只留下他一條命，其餘盡皆化為灰燼。波士頓慈濟志工聽到他的故事，無不泛淚，也都感佩，稱許他仍能樂觀面對未來。

              波士頓慈濟負責人長金滿表示，帶動社會向善，鼓勵人們茹素，呼籲注重環保，都是慈濟在震災之外的志業，希望有更多人能加入行善行列。查詢波士頓慈濟詳情，可上網http://www.tzuchiboston.org/。

波士頓第一區市議員4月5日補選 Gabriela Coletta獲前任背書

 Gabriela Coletta endorsed by Lydia Edwards

Endorsement comes from the newly elected State Senator

BOSTON – Gabriela Coletta, candidate for Boston City Councilor District One, announced the endorsement of her former boss, First Suffolk & Middlesex State Senator and District One Councilor Lydia Edwards. Preliminary Election Day is April 5, 2022. General Election Day is May 3, 2022.

“Gabriela Coletta is the most prepared, competent, and capable person to be the next City Councilor. She is uniquely qualified for the job. She came out of Boston Public Schools, worked in government, and has done incredible work fighting to ensure Boston’s waterfront is truly a waterfront for all,” said Edwards. “As my first Chief of staff, she demonstrated unmatched commitment, compassion, and drive, and proved she is ready to do the work of a city councilor…she knows the district like the back of her hand. Whether by policy, project, or by pothole - she knows the work.”

Lydia Edwards is one of the many elected leaders to endorse Gabriela Coletta for Boston City Council District 1.

“The endorsement of my former boss and mentor, now State Senator Lydia Edwards, means a great deal to me," said Coletta. "I've had a front row seat to her advocacy and I've learned so much about how to effectively fight for this district. I intend to utilize the knowledge I gained as chief of staff to uplift our communities, to center the lived experiences of all district one residents, and advocate for what we deserve in City Hall.”

Gabriela Coletta, candidate for Boston City Council District 1 will host a weekend of action with State Senator Edwards and other endorsed elected officials to door knock in East Boston on Saturday and Charlestown on Sunday. Please visit gigi4district1.us/events to sign up and learn more.

In just the first month of her candidacy, Coletta has raised over $70,000 and secured the endorsement of over seventy community leaders including various former and current elected officials. 

Coletta intends to run a robust, grassroots campaign focused on listening to residents, having inclusive discussions about the issues, and will bring her vision for the district directly to voters. To learn more visit about gabrielacoletta.com, Facebook at @GigiforDistrictOne, and Twitter @Gigi4District1

MAYOR WU SWEARS IN NEW MAYOR’S YOUTH COUNCIL

MAYOR WU SWEARS IN NEW MAYOR’S YOUTH COUNCIL This group of 86 high schoolers works to engage and empower Boston’s youth through civic participation

BOSTON - Thursday, February 10, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu yesterday joined the Department of Youth Engagement and Employment to swear in this year’s Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC). These 86 high school students work to give teens a voice in City government by advising the Mayor and her Cabinet on issues pertinent to their peers. This marks the first Youth Council swearing-in since the COVID-19 pandemic began. “This Youth Council so often serves as the beautiful beginning to a much longer commitment to serving our communities, and I am so excited that these young leaders have accepted this invitation,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “With the help of the Youth Council, I look forward to continuing to demonstrate just how much is possible in this City with young people leading the way.” The Mayor's Youth Council is a model of youth inclusion in government and civic engagement. As the first Mayor’s Youth Council in the nation, it has spurred cities across the nation, and even internationally, to examine how they include youth in local government. Members, or Ambassadors, of the MYC serve for one term and act as representatives for all young people who reside in Boston. Students were selected following an extensive application and interview process announced in April. The number of youth representing neighborhoods is based on census data that indicates where young people live. MYC is a year-round commitment, and members devote 10 to 15 hours a month to meetings, events, projects, and outreach.  “Serving as a youth ambassador for the Mayor’s Youth Council and a co-director of the Workforce and Economic Development Committee is truly an honor and a humbling experience,” said Wesley Ekes, 16, a Dorchester resident, Boston Collegiate Charter School student, and Co-Director of the MYC Workforce and Economic Development Committee. “Having an established environment where youth across Boston can collaboratively brainstorm and implement initiatives across a wide variety of recurring issues is critically important to the success of our city.” "Youth voices have been undermined and ignored. But I’m so proud of ‘Gen Z’, they are not afraid to speak up,” said Thy Nguyen, 17, a Dorchester resident, Excel High School student, and Co-Director of the MYC Education Committee. “We’re the ones experiencing injustices, who can make better decisions for us if that’s not us?"  MYC representatives form issue-based subcommittees designed by input from youth and are reflective of the overall structure of Mayor Wu’s Cabinet. The current committees include Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement, Climate Action, Education, Public Health, Public Peace, Workforce & Economic Development, and Youth Lead the Change. 22 of the members are elected by their peers to serve as Directors and Liaisons to lead the Youth Council's committees and neighborhood working groups. Each MYC Committee is focused on better understanding the needs of young people and the resources available in the City within their respective impact area. Historically, members of the MYC have worked on a variety of issues related to public safety, participatory budgeting, and civic engagement. The MYC provided feedback to the MBTA on their 5-year plan for transportation in Massachusetts (GoBoston 2030); guided the community input process for how the City of Boston spends $1 million of the City budget through “Youth Lead the Change” participatory budgeting over the past seven years; and led many discussions around current issues and events for young people during the pandemic. “Young people are not just our future, but leaders of the current moment, change makers of our current circumstances, and bold, brave advocates for justice, equity, and opportunity today,” said Rashad Cope, Director of the Department of Youth Engagement & Employment. “Boston has always been a city that values its young people, and as we embrace a changing society we know education, healthcare, jobs, public safety, and career pathways require youth decision making. MYC offers a space for youth in Boston to have a voice and confront these and other issues in their neighborhoods, school community, and within city government.”  This year, Youth Ambassadors are also part of a pilot of three neighborhood working groups to facilitate a needs assessment aimed at better understanding the priorities of Boston’s youth. Both Youth Council committees and neighborhood working groups will be supporting the youth needs assessment by crafting a survey of questions to understand youth needs, as well as hosting youth assemblies to amplify youth voice. Each working group will represent different neighborhoods of Boston.  Mayor Wu welcomed the new Youth Council at a ceremony at the Boston Public Library. The swearing-in ceremony usually happens at the beginning of the Council year, but because of the pandemic and transition it was moved to February. Due to COVID-19, the previous Mayor's Youth Council (2020-2021) was fully remote for the entire program. This marks the first year the Youth Council will be back meeting in-person. To learn more about the Mayor’s Youth Council and the Department of Youth Engagement and Employment, please visit here.

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Governor Baker Nominates Joseph P. Hurley, III as Circuit Justice of the District Court

 Governor Baker Nominates Joseph P. Hurley, III as Circuit Justice of the District Court

 

BOSTON — This week, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Joseph P. Hurley, III as Circuit Justice of the District Court. Assistant Clerk Hurley has 28 years of legal experience.

 

“Joseph P. Hurley, III possesses years of experience in public service that make him a well-qualified candidate for the District Court,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I look forward to the Governor’s Council’s consideration of his nomination for this appointment.”

 

“I am pleased with the nomination of this distinguished candidate,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Attorney Hurley’s years of experience in both the public and private sectors and deep knowledge of the law will allow him to serve the Commonwealth with fairness.”

 

The District Court hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties; all misdemeanors; and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the Commonwealth.

 

For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage.

 

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.

 

About Joseph P. Hurley, III

 

Joseph P. Hurley, III began his law career as a law clerk with Hannon and Hurley in 1988, and later as an associate after receiving his law degree in 1991. Assistant Clerk  Hurley joined the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney in 1993 before returning to Hannon and Hurley to resume his position as an associate from 1994 to 1996. He then joined the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds in 1996 as the Head Executive Assistant Register of Deeds. Since 1998, Assistant Clerk Hurley has served in his current position for the Norfolk Country Superior Court. He is very active in his community, both as a coach for Braintree Youth Lacrosse and as a volunteer for the Braintree Municipal Golf Course Special Needs Golf Program. Assistant Clerk Hurley is a member of both the Massachusetts and Norfolk County Bar Associations, serving as an officer in various roles for the latter, and is the Secretary of the Superior Court Clerks’ Association. Assistant Clerk Hurley received his Bachelor’s degree from Saint Michael’s College in 1983, and his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in 1991. 

MIT校長 L. Rafael Reif 宣佈今年底卸任

MIT校長 L. Rafael Reif。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

     (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻省理工學院 (MIT)已在位10年的校長L. Rafael Reif ，今(10)日宣佈2022年底卸任。

                 L. Rafael Reif原籍委內瑞拉(Venezuela)，父母是納粹時期，逃到東歐的猶太難民。他從史丹福大學取得博士學位後，1980年加入MIT，起初是電子工程系助理教授，後來當了7年教務長，2012年再當上MIT第17任校長。

                 L. Rafael Reif 卸任後將休假一年，再回電子工程及電腦科學系當教授。

            MIT並未公佈搜尋繼任校長的相關細節。

               L. Rafael Reif 在位的10年間，做了不少是，其中最有野心的是重塑肯德廣場(Kendall Square)計畫，把MIT校園東側變成了初創企業聚集的創新樞紐。大部分的這些新發展動態都發生在MIT自己擁有的土地上，包括以前用做停車場的幾塊地皮，都變成了辦公或住宅大樓。

             L. Rafael Reif還有許多其他備受矚目的舉動與建設。

             2015年時，L. Rafael Reif先是在華盛頓郵報上公開發表意見，宣導他稱為”創新果園”的新組織，以協助在”硬科技 (Tough Tech)”中的初創企業成功落地。2016年，MIT就宣布推出”引擎 (The Engine)”這新種類的企業孵化器，支持有潛力對社會有改變性影響的科學及科技創新型的初創企業。

             迄今，”引擎”經過2輪募資，已募得4億3千萬元，支持了27家挑戰氣候變化，人類健康，以及各種有開創性的先進系統等公司。

             在他的領導之下，MIY也於2018年承諾以10億元來因應電腦及人工智慧給世界帶來的機會與挑戰，並在Stephen A. Schwarzman捐資3億5千萬元下，成立了Stephen A. Schwarzman計算學院。

2020年，MIT和哈佛大學聯名興訟，挑戰禁止持有F-1學生簽證，但所選課程因為新冠病毒全改為網上教授的國際學生入境美國的政策。如今該政策已撤銷。

2021年1月，在美國政府的”中國計劃”行動中，機械工程教授陳剛以詐欺聯邦補助款的罪名被捕。麻省理工學院容許陳剛在抗辯期間停職留薪，還支付陳剛的法律費用。2022年1月，聯邦政府要求法院撤銷所有控罪。L. Rafael Reif也發表了一封公開信，聲稱從一開始就頓陳剛有信心，大家都對有破壞性過程的正義結果正在浮現，都很感恩。

             為著手解決最困擾世界的一些議題，MIT在2016年推出”更好的世界”程款計劃，從11萬2千名個人及組織，募得62億4千萬元，遠超最初訂定的50億元目標。 

             在L. Rafael Reif在位期間，MIT的捐贈基金也從103億元增長到274億元。

176 Cultural Organizations Receive $431,000 in Mass Cultural Council Projects Grants

One-year Grants Support Public Programming 42% of Recipients Are First-Time Applicants

BOSTON – Mass Cultural Council today announces that FY22 Projects grants totaling $431,000 have been awarded to 176 Massachusetts cultural organizations to support public programming that provides access, excellence, diversity, or education in the arts, humanities, or sciences.   This year supported projects range from a mobile art outreach program on Cape Cod to a sonic performance examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northampton.   “Culture brings us together, generates empathy, and helps us heal in a time of crisis. The projects funded today will provide unique opportunities for Massachusetts residents to participate and enjoy cultural events and activities in their communities,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council.   Part of Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Investment Portfolio (CIP) suite of programs providing operating and project-based support for cultural organizations, Projects grants frequently provide a point of entry for smaller organizations to begin a granting relationship with the Agency. This year, 42% of Projects applicants were organizations applying to Mass Cultural Council for the first time.    “I am pleased to note that 93 applicants to this grant round are brand new to Mass Cultural Council, and 66 of them have received funding,” said Bobbitt. “As I embark on my second year leading the Agency, I am focused on recruiting even more new individuals and organizations to participate in our programs and services.” First-time Projects grantees funded in FY22 include: Abilities Dance, Brookline: An Evening with Abilities Dance in Upham’s Corner Berkshires Jazz, Pittsfield: Jazz Appreciation Month: the Pittsfield CityJazz Festival Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, Northampton: Con Alma, a sonic performance which examines the isolation of the pandemic Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cotuit: Art Bus Community Roots: mobile art outreach program, encouraging family engagement Fall River Museum of Contemporary Art, Fall River: two public art projects to be presented in a downtown storefront in Fall River Lowell Makes, Lowell: 2022 Mill City Skill Share, an annual a day of free community-led workshops Northbridge Brass Endeavors, Northbridge: Afternoon of Brass performances in Northbridge and Worcester Ohketeau Cultural Center, Ashfield: The Living Presence of Our History, a public project on contemporary Indigenous issues A key pillar of Mass Cultural Council’s Strategic Plan is Growing the Economy. Projects grants accomplish this goal by providing support to nonprofit arts, humanities, and science organizations across Massachusetts. These organizations connect people of all ages to theater, music, dance, visual art, and film; teach them about history, literature, and the environment; and introduce them to new ideas and cultural traditions. Further, the Agency’s new Racial Equity Plan lays the foundation for Mass Cultural Council to invest financial, programmatic, and informational resources equitably across the cultural sector.   A complete funding list and project descriptions for FY22 Projects grantees is available online.