星期三, 11月 23, 2022

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES $6.6 BILLION NATIONWIDE SETTLEMENT WITH TEVA AND ALLERGAN OVER CLAIMS OF ILLEGALLY MARKETING OPIOIDS

 AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES $6.6 BILLION NATIONWIDE SETTLEMENT WITH TEVA AND ALLERGAN OVER CLAIMS OF ILLEGALLY MARKETING OPIOIDS 

Massachusetts Stands to Receive More Than $130 Million for Harm Reduction, Treatment, and Recovery Services 

 

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today announced that proposed nationwide settlements totaling $6.6 billion have been reached with opioid makers Teva Pharmaceuticals and Allergan, resolving allegations that they contributed to the opioid crisis by illegally marketing their opioids and failing to maintain effective diversion controls.   

 

“Teva and Allergan’s unlawful behavior contributed to a national public health crisis,” said AG Healey. “These settlements require them to pay for the treatment, recovery, and support services that families need, change their business practices, and turn over millions of internal documents for the public to see.”    

 

The proposed nationwide settlements call for Teva to pay a total of $4.24 billion over 13 years and Allergan to pay $2.37 billion over seven years. These figures include amounts the companies paid to previously settling states. Massachusetts and its municipalities stand to receive more than $130 million from these two settlements to abate the opioid crisis, which would be directed to the state’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund and participating municipalities, in accordance with the state’s State-Subdivision Agreement.    

 

Teva manufactures the branded fentanyl products Actiq and Fentora, as well as generic opioids including oxycodone. Ireland-based Allergan formerly made Norco- and Kadian-branded and generic opioids. Allergan sold its generic portfolio, including opioid products, to Teva in 2016. The settlements prohibit Teva and Allergan from promoting opioids, directly and through front groups, and from engaging in opioid-related lobbying activities. The settlements also require the companies to turn over for public disclosure millions of internal documents they produced in the litigation.  

 

The parties are optimistic that the proposed settlements will gain critical support from attorneys general nationwide, so that local governments have an opportunity to join the resolutions during the first quarter of 2023.     


This is the second major nationwide opioid settlement that the AG’s Office has announced this month. Last week, proposed $3 billion settlement was reached with Walmart, resolving allegations that the company contributed to the opioid crisis by failing to properly oversee the dispensing of opioids at its stores. Massachusetts and its municipalities stand to receive more than $61 million of those funds. 

 

On July 21, 2021, AG Healey announced a $26 billion resolution with opioid distributors and Johnson & Johnson, which will provide more than $500 million to the Commonwealth and its cities and towns for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery across Massachusetts. Funds from these settlements began flowing into Massachusetts in June 2022. 

 

Attorneys General from California, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia served as the lead negotiators on today’s resolutions.   

Healey and Driscoll Announce Inaugural Committee Leadership

 Healey and Driscoll Announce Inaugural Committee Leadership 


BOSTON – Massachusetts Governor-elect Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll today announced the leadership team for their Inaugural Committee. The Committee Co-Chairs will be Bryan Rafanelli and Barbara Lee. The Inaugural Committee's Director will be Katie Prisco-Buxbaum. The Inaugural Celebration, which will take place on January 5th, will be produced by Rafanelli Events. 


“Lieutenant Governor-elect Driscoll and I look forward to hosting an inaugural event that celebrates the amazing people of Massachusetts and this great state,” said Governor-elect Healey. “We’re putting together a team of experts who will produce events that bring people together and celebrate the important work that the Healey-Driscoll Administration will do to move Massachusetts forward.”


Bryan Rafanelli is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Rafanelli Events, the premier event planning, design and production company in New England, with expertise in social events, non-profit events, and weddings. Rafanelli and his company most recently planned the wedding of President Joe Biden’s granddaughter Naomi Biden at the White House on November 19th. Rafanelli has long served as the Finance Committee Co-Chair of Healey’s political committee. 


Barbara Lee is a national leader in advancing women’s equality and representation in American politics. Through the Barbara Lee Political Office, she has helped elect 197 women in 33 states, including the first woman Vice President of the United States and every sitting Democratic woman Governor and U.S. Senator. Barbara encouraged Healey to run for Attorney General in 2013, and she has been a strong supporter ever since.


Katie Prisco-Buxbaum is the Founder and Principal of Hyphenated Strategies. She is a veteran of Massachusetts, California, and national politics and has served as a trusted advisor to numerous women candidates, including as General Consultant for Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll’s successful campaign.


The inaugural events will be funded through private donations, not with taxpayer dollars. The Healey-Driscoll Inaugural Committee will be imposing a contribution limit of $25,000 for individuals and businesses. Additional information will be forthcoming. 

黃官羨閱報室慶感恩節 台山鄉親聯誼會獻牌匾

黃官羨閱報室慶祝感恩節,部分出席者合影。 (黃周麗桃提供)

台山鄉親聯誼會會長鄺元傑 (左二起向右)和副會長黃紹培、黃漢湖,黃偉健等人製作牌匾
,送給黃官羨(左一),表達感恩之心。 (黃周麗桃提供)
               (Boston Orange) 感恩節在美國是個比聖誕節還重要的全家團聚節日,幾乎所有店鋪都歇業,好讓員工與家人團聚。「黃官羨閱報室」和台山同鄉聯誼會攜手,特地趕在1124日這節日前的週末,歡喜聚會,向彼此表達一年來互相扶持的感恩之心。

右起,伍煥華,伍輝民和黃官羨、陳美霞、陳家驊、黃兆祥等人圍桌暢敘。 (黃周麗桃提供)
               台山鄉親聯誼會會長鄺元杰和副會長黃漢湖,黃紹培,黃偉健等人代表該會,特地製作了一塊精緻牌匾,刻印上「樂善好施富而好禮、生財有道商業奇才」這些讚詞,送給黃官羨,感謝他把必珠街上一處物業的土庫,改建成「黃官羨閱報室」,讓台山鄉親、所有華人來到波士頓華埠時,都有個落腳休息,喝杯茶,看看報,和同鄉、同胞聊聊天,話家常的地方。

               1120日這天,包括華美福利會執行長陳美霞,波士頓僑領陳家驊,伍胥山公所美東總理伍煥華,新英格蘭伍胥山公所主席伍輝民,曾任紐英崙中華公所主席的黃兆祥,黃氏宗親會議長黃國麟,波士頓同源會創辦人李衛新許多人都應邀出席,與眾同樂,一同感恩幸運的華埠社區內有很多善心人士為社區默默付出。




 

Healey-Driscoll交接團隊宣佈已有750人申請加入新政府

             (Boston Orange 編譯) 不到2週,逾750人申請,候任麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)和副州長Kim Driscoll交接團隊報喜訊,稱網站才推出,就已吸引這麼多人申請政府職位,目前經濟發展、衛生及人類服務和教育部門最多人有興趣。

            人才招募告捷之外,交接團隊還收到250多份關於政府應優先考慮哪些政策問題的意見書。民眾分別就氣候、交通、健康和人類服務等提出許多建議。交接團隊正在檢視這些意見,以做為籌備未來工作計畫的參考。

            交接團隊主席暨候任副州長Kim Driscoll表示,她和候任週長奚莉對於這麼快就有這麼多人有意願加入政府服務,感到非常高興。他們將仔細翻閱每一申請及建議,也鼓勵人們繼續遞交申請表及意見書,她們也將和地方市鎮及州和聯邦官員,企業團體等溝通,以確保政府有最優秀的人才。

            有意加入Healey-Driscoll政府者,可點擊這兒(here)遞交申請表,有意提交意見者,可點擊這兒 ( here)。查詢更多資訊可上網HealeyDriscollTransition.com

星期二, 11月 22, 2022

麻州政府擬設立緊急庇護所收案中心

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Intake Center to Facilitate Emergency Shelter Needs

DEVENS – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced plans to establish and maintain a temporary central intake center as part of the Commonwealth’s response to substantially increased demand on the emergency assistance shelter system. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will temporarily utilize the Bob Eisengrein Community Center in Devens as an intake center where up to 60 families (125 individuals maximum) at a time can reside during their first few days in shelter and receive timely case management services and various intake assessments before being transferred to an emergency assistance site or another more permanent housing solution.

The temporary site will open in early December and remain open for at least four months. Families will stay at the intake center for a few days, where they will receive housing case management, human services and case management, and if eligible, will be enrolled in state benefits.

The intake center will be operated by MEMA in partnership with a shelter provider. The center will be equipped to provide short-term congregate lodging, food, and laundry services for resident families.

“Thanks to collaboration from MEMA, the Department of Housing and Community Development, Devens community leaders, and various partners, the Commonwealth is quickly standing up a temporary intake center to more effectively respond to increased demand for shelter from new arrivals and individuals experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “By creating a centralized space to conduct intake activities before families are placed in their emergency assistance site, we will be able to better assess the needs of these individuals and better prepare communities for the arrival of families to shelter sites in their city or town.”

On November 18, Governor Charlie Baker filed a $139 million Fiscal Year 2023 supplemental budget to support the Commonwealth’s response to substantially increased demand on the emergency assistance shelter system, including $20 million to establish and maintain a temporary central intake center. The targeted funding and policy changes in this bill will provide resources to expand emergency shelter capacity to address an uptick in need for these services, which is driven in part by a recent increase in migrant entries to Massachusetts, due to federal immigration policy.

A former U.S. Army base in central Massachusetts, Devens is being redeveloped by MassDevelopment into a mixed-use community and is currently home to approximately 950 residents and 100 businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations.

MAYOR WU AND BOSTON EMS CELEBRATE RECENT PROMOTIONS AND NEW EMT GRADUATES

MAYOR WU AND BOSTON EMS CELEBRATE RECENT PROMOTIONS AND NEW EMT GRADUATES 

BOSTON – Monday, November 21, 2022 – Today, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu along with Boston Public Health Commission Executive Director Dr. Bisola Ojikutu and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief James Hooley celebrated the graduation of 19 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Recruits and the recent promotions of seven Lieutenants, five Paramedics, four Deputy Superintendents and two Superintendents. The 18 promotions took place over the last four months and represent approximately 300 years of combined experience working with Boston EMS. The EMTs will be assigned to 911 ambulances and dispatch operations, strengthening the City of Boston's Emergency Medical Services. 

 

Mayor Michelle Wu provided the keynote address during the ceremony and recognized the newest EMTs and those promoted, as well as the department as a whole, for being on the frontlines of the City’s response to many priorities from substance use disorder, mental health, and health equity to violence and injury prevention.

 

“Boston EMS represents all of our neighborhoods and the time, training, resources that we invest in our graduates always find a way back to our neighborhoods and to our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Boston is a stronger, safer and better city because of your commitment.” 

 

Boston EMS is the first emergency medical service in the state to be approved for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of EMS, Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Emergency Department Avoidance program. In late October, Boston EMS launched its first MIH program, offering 9-1-1 callers experiencing a low acuity behavioral health emergency the option to be routed directly to an on-call Boston Emergency Services Team licensed clinician. Although Boston EMS does not yet offer this service 24/7, anyone in Boston can dial the BEST call center directly at 1-800-981-HELP (4357). 

 

The 19 EMT-Recruit graduates began in April and throughout the last six months have spent time in the classroom expanding their clinical expertise and awareness, honing practical skills, and working in training ambulances, responding to a combined 3,000 real medical emergencies. Many of the graduates were drawn to Boston EMS through their desire to help people, give back to their community and the department’s reputation as one of the best emergency medical services in the country. 

 

Graduate EMT Mateo Martinez credits Boston EMS for saving his life as a child as the principal reason he chose to come work for the department. “Seeing their ability to make difficult clinical decisions and advocate on my behalf impacted not just my immediate care, but also my long-term recovery,” said EMT Mateo Martinez.

 

The Boston EMS Recruit Academy is a full-time, paid training program for state certified EMTs, ensuring residents receive the highest quality pre-hospital care before they are badged as department EMTs. Boston EMS recently started a subsequent Academy class in September and is currently accepting applications for another class. EMTs interested in a rewarding career at Boston EMS are encouraged to go to www.boston.gov/ems to apply. Starting pay is $30 an hour (including wages, hazard duty and differential). 

 

Mayor Wu approved Boston EMS for 24 additional positions in July of this year, which the department hopes to fill with the current hiring. This will allow Boston EMS to add more frontline ambulances, to meet the rising demand for service, as well as a new Alternative Response Unit, which will be jointly staffed with an EMT and mental health clinician from the Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST). 

 

The 18 members of the department recognized for their recent promotions bring a range of specialties to their new roles, including training, field operations, dispatch operations, special operations, and wellness. They are role models, mentors, and advocates for both peers and patients. 

 

In August, the five paramedics completed their three-month promotional internship, which includes classroom and field instruction. They are currently assigned to advanced life support ambulances. The Lieutenants began their new role on November 7th and are in the midst of a four-week training program, after which they will begin their supervisory assignment in the field or dispatch operations. Recognizing the vital role of dispatch operations, it will now be overseen by two newly promoted Deputy Superintendents. Deputy promotions also included a Shift Commander and a member focused on recruitment, diversity, and partnerships. Of the newly promoted Superintendents, one will lead Operations and the other Training, Recruitment and Community Initiatives. 

 

Although this is the first ceremony that has jointly included graduates and promotees, Boston EMS has long seen benefit in combining them, allowing newest members to stand beside those with five, 10 and 20 or more years of experience, as equally vital members of the department. 

 

“Emergency medical services, in Boston, and across the country, continue to change and become more challenging and complex,” said Boston EMS Chief of Department, Jim Hooley. “We depend on these members recognized today, at every rank, to carry us through these upcoming post-pandemic years, and whatever else the future holds. I am confident in the people we have chosen and will do my best to serve them well.”

 

“Boston EMS members serve at the intersection of public health and public safety, responding to the most pressing needs of our city, caring for our communities, and saving lives. Their work on the frontlines is critical to building a healthier, more equitable Boston,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. "The Boston EMS members recognized for their promotions today exemplify dedication and professionalism. I thank them for their continued service and thank this graduating class for taking up the call to serve the City of Boston.”

 

Boston EMS is one of the busiest municipal EMS providers in New England, responding to more than 126,000 emergency medical incidents per year. As a bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), Boston EMS is committed to serving Boston's residents through clinical excellence, emergency planning and preparedness, and community outreach. 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES AWARDS OF $7,000,000 IN ARPA FUNDING TO GROW EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE

 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES AWARDS OF $7,000,000 IN ARPA FUNDING TO GROW EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE 


The four grantees lead programs that will increase the number of qualified educators in early childhood education by 795 degrees or certifications.

BOSTON - Monday, November 21, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the recipients of grants totaling $7,000,000 from Growing the Workforce Fund, designed to address early childhood workforce challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Joined by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Representative Katherine Clark, Mayor Wu announced the investment of American Rescue Plan Act Funds at an event at Horizons for Homeless Children. Unlike some sectors which have begun to recover, child care providers in Boston continue to struggle to find staff qualified to fill the vacant positions. As of September, over 50 classrooms in the City of Boston were still closed due to staffing shortages, and centers struggled to fill over 200 positions which would allow them to return to pre-pandemic hours of operations. The grants will support increasing skills of new and current early childhood workforce.

 

“Investing in early education is an investment in our shared future,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Strengthening the critical infrastructure of care work means building up the workforce and turning longstanding gaps into economic opportunities right in our communities.” 

 

“Child care is critical infrastructure and its quality and affordable child care that makes all other parts of our economy possible,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “I'm going to keep fighting alongside my friends and partners because federal investments like the ones included in the American Rescue Plan will be transformative for families here in Massachusetts and across the country.”

 

“Child care providers carry the weight of our families and our economy on their shoulders, and they prove their strength every single day,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “That’s why I’m so proud of the 500 million in federal funding that the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation delivered to providers across the Commonwealth in the American Rescue Plan Act, and why I am thrilled to be here today to celebrate $13 million in additional funding for Boston providers. This is another important step towards showing our child care providers that we value their work, and showing our parents our support for their families.”

 

“Just like our roads and bridges, child care is a critical piece of our economic infrastructure. When the pandemic brought the child care sector to the brink of collapse, Democrats jumped into action,” said Representative Katherine Clark.” I was proud to lead the call for child care relief funding as part of the American Rescue Plan, and I am thrilled to see these dollars making a real difference at home. Investing in early educators, kids, and families is central to building an economy that leaves no one behind.”

 

The fund addresses early education and child care staffing shortages in the City of Boston caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by recruiting new educators and upskilling the current workforce. Together, the grantees – Bunker Hill Community College, Urban College, University of Massachusetts Boston and Neighborhood Villages – will support almost 800 degrees or certifications at no cost to the participants. In addition to expanding the workforce, the grants will provide operational stability for Boston’s early childhood industry by requiring program participants to fulfill a two- or three-year work commitment in early childhood education in the City of Boston for their credential.

 

Building on Mayor Wu's commitment to universal, affordable, high-quality early education and care for all children under five, this grant prepares educators by providing coursework and degrees recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) free of debt. The grant will increase the number of degrees or certifications by 795 as follows: 210 Childhood Development Associates (CDA), 30 CDA renewals, 135 Teacher Lead Certifications, 125 Director's Certifications, 90 Associate Degrees, 130 Bachelor Degrees, and 75 Master's Degrees. 

 

Bunker Hill Community College, Urban College, University of Massachusetts Boston and Neighborhood Villages will also provide wrap-around support to new and existing childhood educators designed to enhance completion rates, including coaching and mentoring. Additionally, they will pay for tuition, books, supplies as well as provide childcare, transportation, and other financial assistance as needed. 

 

“I am so excited that this fund is going to enable 800 childcare providers to earn further educational credentials at key local institutions,” said Councilor Kenzie Bok. “This means a huge infusion of well-trained workers into our local childcare ecosystem, and will help us build better pathways for years to come.”

 

“Today’s investment is a welcome one for early educators like me. Relieving the burden of debt associated with higher education will help educators continue to focus on the important work of building the foundation for our students’ future success,” said Lisa Brooks, Early Educator at Horizons for Homeless Children.

 

This announcement builds on Mayor Wu’s commitment to supporting early education and investing in creating accessible and high-quality child care across the city. Just last week, Mayor Wu announced another allocation of APRA funds to support child care centers providing early childhood programming to essential workers working non-traditional hours, support child care workers by providing them immediate compensation relief, and provide training and technical assistance to child care centers. In July, Mayor Wu signed an executive order that strengthened child care zoning regulations, making the requirements more transparent and predictable. 

西藏娘本唐卡藝術首次在波士頓展出

Pellas藝廊創辦人Alfredo Pellas (右二)邀麻州眾議員黃子安 (右起),Konchok Sonam 喇嘛
等人出席座談,討論西藏唐卡藝術。 (Boston Orange)

              (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 聯合國教育科學文化組織列為人類非物質文化遺產之一的熱貢藝術唐卡繪畫,經波士頓市紐百利街 (Newbury) Pellas 藝廊安排,刻正首次在麻州展出,19日請得Konchok Sonam 喇嘛,西藏學者之女Thamzhin (Tammy) Tsikar,麻州眾議員黃子安 (Donald Wong) 等人座談。

              Pella 藝廊以「娘本: 失傳的唐卡藝術」為名,推出的西藏唐卡藝術作品展,陳列娘本,其子,以及徒弟Renqing Duojie的作品,9月底開幕後,將展至1126日。

              唐卡有「世界最細膩工筆畫」之稱,是西藏特殊的棉布卷軸畫,也是一種膠彩繪畫,把天然岩礦磨成粉,沾上牛膠,在棉布上作畫。畫上金線,是用真黃金磨粉做成的顏料。唐卡畫作內容包括神像、民俗、歷史、天文、醫學,具有非常濃厚民族氣息,宗教作用,以及歷史傳承意義。

西藏學者之女倉珍(左一)描述其父傳承溪 藏格薩爾史詩的努力。 (Boston Orange)

這種藝術形式可追溯自11世紀,以青海熱貢地區為重鎮,同仁縣藏族自治區的上下吾屯區,曼唐 (sMan-thang),以及黃南州最著稱,早年只見於西藏高級寺廟,只有高層領導才有機會看到,一般人家不得而知,直到中國政府把這種藝術列為國家遺產,想要保存,才開始廣為人知。

師從熱貢藝術大師夏吾才讓的娘本,是大陸國國家級非物質文化遺產項目「熱貢藝術」的代表性傳承人,也是第六屆中國工藝美術大師。他勾勒的高僅23公分高菩薩,連國際鑑定家用60倍放大鏡都找不出含糊之處。2005年,他創立青海熱貢畫院,擔任院長,曾遠赴世界上20多個國家,推廣唐卡藝術。2014年娘卡捐贈一幅唐卡精品給聯合國扶貧基金會,現場拍賣價高達160萬美元。

2019年,台灣華梵大學展出娘本的一系列唐卡畫作,獲贈一幅價值人民幣500萬元的「黑金唐卡鉅作-五部文殊」,還邀請娘本擔任特聘講座教授,在華梵大學傳授唐卡繪製技藝。

座談會獻哈達之後,麻州眾議員黃子安(左)送上表揚狀,表揚Pellas藝廊介紹亞裔文化藝術。
(Boston Orange)

Pella 藝廊創辦人Alfredo Pellas表示自己來自尼加拉瓜,但已定居美國多年。他自己從來不知道有唐卡藝術,該藝廊會舉辦這一展覽,完全是命運使然。該藝廊主任Serena Zhang的母親,15年前曾經寫過一本關於娘本的書,而他開藝廊,就是想展示這一類罕見又矜貴的藝術,這才促成了這次的畫展。

Alfredo Pellas說,藝廊牆上的一幅畫作就是唐卡藝術家們花了3.8年,每天工作10小時才畫成的。那些畫師都是5歲就被送進寺廟的僧侶,用天然礦石做材料,包括青金石的藍色,珊瑚的紅色,黃金混骨髓的金色,照傳承了幾千年的工法來創作。

               Thamzhin (Tammy) Tsikar在座談中敘述了她父親在保存西藏文化,傳承格薩爾史詩 (Gesar)的努力。她父親和同事花了30年工夫,把原本只是口耳相傳,並無文字的西藏格薩爾史詩,彙整了50本書,又花了10年時間來翻譯中文版,並縮編成5本。現在還有1本英文版的簡單介紹。

              麻州眾議員黃子安表示,漸漸地,越來越多人知道,亞裔是個統稱,亞裔包含了越南、柬埔寨、華人、西藏人等等。就連麻州政府眾議院,也是現在才有了8名亞裔眾議員。他認為亞裔重視人體更容易吸收的天然醫藥,而不是製藥公司製作的人工合成藥。在世界越變越小,人們距離越來越近之際,人們不論族裔,都該團結合作。

              Konchok Sonam 喇嘛在西藏出生,來到麻州定居已20年,在Danvers創辦了24小時對外開放的西藏廟。他認為那是美國唯一一所真正的西藏廟。他說,佛學有84000法門,人們健康不好時,就會想要向藥師佛拜拜。對禮佛的人來說,唐卡很重要,可以轉化人的想像力,而唐卡上的繽紛色彩,就有如人們在各種環境中的生活,唐卡幫助人得到精神上的鎮定、平衡。

              南牛頓高中的西藏人及喜馬拉雅人俱樂部創辦人暨會長Grace Kelsangmetog Cai,為出席者彈奏揚琴。她說麻州有不少西藏人,但卻沒有甚麼機會可以上西藏學校,她藉由食物,音樂及藝術和節日,以及隨時給人們機會教育,來表達她自己對西藏的感情。

星期一, 11月 21, 2022

新英格蘭武術學院報喜訊 21人入選國家武術代表隊

新英格蘭武術學院部分參賽團員。 (新英格蘭武術學院提供)
 
             (Boston Orange) 美國第12屆新英格蘭國際武術錦標賽暨美國武術聯合會 (USAWKF)傳統武術功夫國家代表隊選拔賽日前在康州落幕。新英格蘭武術學院報喜訊,62名學員參賽,共得89枚金牌,21人獲選入代表隊。
(新英格蘭武術學院提供)

             新英格蘭武術學院教練陳笑儀表示,今年她們有62名學生參賽,共贏得89枚金牌,42枚銀牌,26枚銅牌,成績驕人,但更令人高興的是有21名學員獲選進入美國傳統武術代表隊。

             今年的這場比賽,於115日在康州Nomads Adventure Quest場館舉行,由創辦錦標賽及選拔賽的美國瑪麗太極功夫學院主辦,是新冠病毒疫情爆發2年多來的第一次實體比賽,共有來自加拿大、英國、烏克蘭、美國等4個國家的50多隊,300多人參加。

其中來自美國的武術隊,分別來自加州、芝加哥、明尼蘇達、馬里蘭、紐約、維多利亞、佛里達州、拉斯維加斯、華盛頓州、西雅圖、俄亥俄州、新澤西州、康州、麻州等15個州。

比賽在6個場地進行,按照不同的年齡,級別及性別做評比。裁判包括總裁判長白文祥,電子技術總監Calvin Wang,以及分派在6個比賽場地的裁判長,江邦軍、張原、郭存傑、陳笑儀、劉中正、張暘等人各率領3名裁判員工作。

當天上午是成人太極,以及11

(新英格蘭武術學院提供)
歲以下少年拳術組的比賽。下午2點開幕式,宣讀國際神探李昌鈺博士的祝賀信,大會主席許瑪麗致詞後,有新英格蘭武術學院表演舞龍舞獅,名師示範太極拳、八卦掌、雙鉤等武術功夫,接著是刀槍棍劍等各種單、雙、軟、硬兵器,以及風格各異的長拳、南拳、詠春拳、劈掛拳、螳螂拳、醉拳等的武術比賽,一直進行到晚上8點,絕對是一場盛大的武林大會。

今年比賽的特點之一是採用電腦作業,把所有運動員的姓名、比賽項目、級別、裁判得分、名次、候選運動員名單等資料,全都展現在大屏幕上,裁判們不再用紙紀錄,觀眾們也可一目了然的知道比賽進展,各選手得分情況。新英格蘭武術學院欣喜表示,這都是該院總教練Calvin Wang的勞動成果。

          新英格蘭武術學院教練陳笑儀對該院今年的參賽結果感到非常滿意,期待2026帶領學員在青奧會上展現武術長才。