第18屆全美伍氏懇親大會精采紛陳 波士頓伍輝民當選美東副總長

全美伍氏懇親大會改選結果出爐，左二向右，羅省美西副總長伍國勝，
三藩市美西正總長伍柱偉，美東正總長紐約伍堅石，美東副總長波士頓伍輝民。
右一為波士頓黃氏主席黃偉健，左一為波士頓黃氏主席黃光沐。
(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 全美伍胥山公所第18屆懇親代表大會從8月11到13日，來到波士頓一連舉行3天，有8個城市的150多名宗親代表出席，改選出美東紐約的伍堅石，美西三藩市的伍柱偉為新任總長，議定下屆全美懇親在西雅圖或羅省舉行。

              波士頓的紐英崙伍胥山公所主席伍輝民也當選為美東副總長。美西副總長為羅省伍國勝。

伍氏出動無人機，從高空拍下這幅由伍氏宗親組成的伍字。
為宗親會締造人體牌字創舉。 (伍市公所提供)

經由紐英崙伍胥山公所精心籌畫，這場全美伍氏懇親大會十分隆重，僑委會委員長徐佳青，波士頓代理市長Ed Flynn 都親臨致賀。伍氏宗親還匯聚在波士頓華埠牌樓前，由伍振中先畫出巨大伍字，再請所有出席懇親會的宗親們列隊站位，填滿伍字，然後出動無人機從高空拍下這幅真人組成的伍氏，締造一項創舉紀錄。

僑委會委員長徐佳青(中)送給全美伍胥山公所一幅「敦本睦誼」掛軸，
由美東總長伍煥華(右)、美西總長伍永昌 (左)代表接受。
(波士頓僑教中心提供)

              紐英崙伍胥山公所可等了26年，才有機會在波士頓舉辦全美懇親大會，在這次大會中卸任美東總長，升任元老一職的伍煥華十分興奮，和紐英崙伍胥山公所的所有宗親，早從去年就開始籌備，不但央得擅書法、繪畫的宗親伍振中繕寫所有的請柬，告示，牌匾，製作巨幅大會橫額，翻新伍胥山肖像，準備一應禮品，大會資料袋，訂酒店，安排接送等，包括全美懇親大會籌備大會共同主席伍輝民、伍偉業，以及歷任主席的伍紹仁，伍侃滋，伍樂仁，伍樹俊等所有宗親都忙翻了天。

伍胥山公所美東總長伍煥華(右)高興地為僑委會委員長徐佳青(中)介紹宗親。
(周菊子攝)

              11日這天，伍氏宗親分別從紐約、美京，芝加哥，三藩市，羅省，西雅圖，休斯頓和波士頓等八個城市趕來，僅只是伍煥華和伍振中，就從機場各自接待了不下70人。伍氏的2位總顧問煥鵬、璇燦，美西總長永昌，元老錦富、競群，伯和，健平，銳廣，柱鈞，健源，銳賢，元贊，健生，尚齊，璇振，煥光，以及顧問超常等等元老級人馬就已將近20人，聲勢非常浩大。

              12日大會正式揭幕前，伍氏宗親們先到位於泰勒街上的伍胥山公所會址祭祖，以4隻金豬，鮮花，美酒，生果告祭祖先，伍氏宗親們又匯聚一堂。由於黃伍一家親的傳統，伍氏宗親們也聯袂移步到必珠街上的黃氏宗親會祭祖、上香。

伍胥山公所申請封街後，由洪青體育會五頭瑞獅前導，各埠舉牌遊行。

              當天中午，紐英崙中華公所和本地僑團依傳統慣例，宴請伍氏宗親。中華公所主席雷國輝率公所職員，中文書記翁宇才，英文書記阮鴻燦，財政陳余寶愛，核數張青梅等人在主桌接待。伍氏公所的伍碧香唱名的請紐英崙各僑團代表起立，讓宗親們認識。

右起，伍氏美東總長伍煥華，波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏、伍氏總顧問伍煥鵬、
委員長徐佳青、伍氏總顧問伍璇燦，總長伍永昌，主席伍偉業。

              當天下午3點多，伍氏宗親們還在泰勒街上集合，舉出紐英崙伍胥山公所早就為各埠公所準備好的團體牌，列隊大合照，再在洪青體育會舞獅前導的鑼鼓喧天熱鬧中，浩浩蕩蕩的從泰勒街，經必珠街，遊行到華盛頓街的帝苑大酒樓。

              僑委會委員長徐佳青，新到任的波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，都專程趕到，和伍氏宗親們一起遊行。

              12日晚，伍胥山公所全美懇親大會在帝苑大酒樓正式揭幕，全美洪門總理余麗媖，全美安良工商會甫卸任總理，升任元老的陳仕維，全美黃氏元老團主席黃國威，黃氏元老黃官羨，北美舜裔篤親公所總理陳建立，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝等嘉賓也紛紛出席致賀。

委員長徐佳青(左六)在伍氏美東總理伍煥華(左五)，元老伍伯和(右三)等人敬酒合影。

              12日一大早才從芝加哥趕到波士頓，次日凌晨6點，又得趕赴紐約的徐佳青委員長在開幕晚宴中表示，波士頓等了26

波士頓代理市長Ed Flynn (中)送上表揚狀給伍胥山公所，
由左起伍偉業，伍輝民，伍煥華，伍永昌代收。

年，才有機會再次舉辦全美懇親大會，她能夠趕來參加，感到格外榮幸。她稱許成立已有百餘年的伍胥山公所，宗親們來到美國後積極合作，努力打拼，建立起很好的基礎，還設立許多獎學金來協助子弟，培養人才，僑委會要特別感謝伍氏有社會公益，培養後進的精神。伍氏和黃氏的黃伍一家親兄弟情誼，也令人感佩。她指出僑委會和伍氏一樣，都在鼓勵年輕人傳承，期許伍氏和僑委會一起，繼續為社會及僑團服務。

              徐佳青委員長特地致送了一幅「敦本睦誼」掛軸，向伍氏宗親表達祝賀之意。

伍胥山公所總長伍煥華(左一)、伍永昌(右二)和紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝(右三)，
為離席的僑委會委員長徐佳青(左三) 送行。右起為僑教中心主任潘昭榮，
僑務委員郭競儒，經文處處長廖朝宏。

              在開幕式中，全美伍氏總顧問伍煥鵬、伍璇燦，以及總長伍煥華、伍永昌和波士頓伍氏主席伍輝民和伍偉業把舞台上布幔揭開，露出「全美伍胥山公所第18屆懇親代表大會」字樣，以及「山河秀麗千秋朝拱帝王家、胥吏賢良萬世流傳忠孝史」的對聯，襯托著伍氏旗幟，伍胥山肖像，彰顯了波氏頓伍氏為承辦這次全美懇親大會，用了多少心思。

伍煥華總長甚至還出動自己年方廿多的2名千金，伍詠欣，伍永怡做攝影補充隊。伍煥華在致詞時表示，伍氏全美懇親大會是要評估過去幾年的工作，但更重要的是規劃更好的明天，讓伍胥山公所再創輝煌。

伍振中在華埠牌樓前劃出伍字，讓宗親們在人體排字時有個依據。

懇親會揭幕晚宴上，紐英崙伍氏特地請甄若茅創辦的星樂隊出場，安排穿著華麗歌衫的趙寶如，曾燕琴，以及一名歌聲極佳的年輕男子等現場唱奏。

13日晚，波士頓黃氏宗親會宴請伍氏誼親，由現任波士頓消防局副局長的黃瑞瑜和台山同鄉聯誼會會長黃紹培擔任司儀，黃氏主席黃偉健、黃光沐，以及元老團主席黃國威分別致歡迎詞、答謝詞。

僑委會委員長徐佳青身後的布幔是伍氏為全美懇親大會特別製作的。

黃氏元老黃惠喜藉有出席者稱，全美伍氏懇親，不但讓波士頓菁英雲集，還繁榮了地方經濟，讓他想起自己是在1980年代到西雅圖參加伍氏宗親的懇親大會，見到當時他已覺得是出類拔萃的伍煥鵬，以及來自芝加哥，滿場飛女宗親，啟迪了他的服務社區志向。而來自加州三藩市伍璇燦總顧問的弟弟，伍璇振更是當今加州州長的當年老師，座中眾人的確是臥虎藏龍。

左起，伍偉業，伍永昌，伍璇燦，伍煥鵬，伍煥華，伍輝民
為全美伍氏懇親大會揭幕。 (周菊子攝)

在黃氏回請，伍氏懇親落幕的這場晚宴中，除了來自各地宗親們上台大合唱”朋友”一曲，格外令人感動外，最讓人驚豔的是來自加州的伍氏宗親伍勵堅，已高齡102歲，卻依然身體矯健，靈活，還應邀上台，鏗鏘有力的高歌數曲，頓時引來粉絲無數，紛紛獻花致敬，為伍氏全美懇親大會留下一段佳話。

伍氏宗親與嘉賓合影。(周菊子攝)

僑委會委員長和伍氏宗親遊行。 (僑教中心提供)

伍煥華感謝黃氏主席黃偉健、黃光沐協助。(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏(中)恭喜伍煥華(右)、伍永昌(左)升任元老。(周菊子攝)

從華府來的伍柏明，現年75歲，唱得一口好粵曲。他父親伍尚熾
據當晚介紹，是在白宮演唱粵曲的第一人。 (周菊子攝)

來自不同城市的黃伍宗親大合唱"朋友"。

伍氏總長伍煥華(右)和伍永昌(左)送感謝牌給全美伍氏懇親大會籌備會
的兩名主席伍輝民(右二)、伍偉業(左二)。(周菊子攝)

黃周麗桃(左)也獻花給102歲，上台獻唱的伍勵堅。
(周菊子攝)

麻州亞裔餐飲協會 (MARA) 年會 麻州經濟發展廳廳長郝伊平應邀主講

麻州亞裔餐飲協會(MARA)會員合影。 (周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 麻州亞裔餐飲協會 (MARA) 8月15日晚在Saugus鎮的九龍餐廳舉辦第3屆年會，雖因天雨改在室內舉行，200多人歡聚一堂，興高采烈，久久不願離席。

麻州亞裔餐飲協會(MARA) 2名共同會長，黃子興(右)、鄺炎彬(左)。 
(周菊子攝)

                                            麻州亞裔餐飲協會在創會會長，素描湘餐廳東主陳素描交棒，九龍餐廳東主黃子興接掌，與“忍者快車壽司店（Samurai Express Sushi   Restaurant）東主鄺炎彬一起擔任共同主席，協會秘書長黃小燕為協會推薦了一名兼職辦公室經理洪萍後，會務逐步穩定發展。

                                    在麻州餐飲協會(MRA)中負責輔導MARA的副總裁Kerry Miller，稱讚該會過去2年非常努力，進步很多，年度慶祝晚會辦得尤其成功。他還指MARA顧問，曾在波士頓市政府小企業局任職，餐飲業經驗豐富的甄碧鳳，為該會的經營走上軌道，貢獻良多。

麻州經濟發展廳廳長郝伊平(中)到場，Tran Le (左)和麻州眾議員
Tram Nguyen (右)歡迎。 (MARA 提供，Kevin Zheng攝)

                                        8 月15日晚的MARA年度晚會，由共同會長黃子興、鄺炎彬開場，Pho Le餐廳共同東主Tran Le和Fuji餐飲集團創辦人梁戰士擔任司儀，請來了麻州經濟發展廳廳長郝伊平 (Yvonne Hao) 做主講嘉賓，並請電視台記者Tiffany Chan，麻州餐飲協會總裁Steve Clark，副總裁Kerry Miller講話，嗩吶大師郭雅志，以及由BMI贊助，專程飛到波士頓的歌手Alice Nichols做精彩表演，還安排了Chelmsford市” 川霸王” 的苟燕妮，以及昆士市的   Frank Chan (陳志宏，志宏保險)  ，Ben Lin (林斌，大鼓米線)等新會員發表見證，敘述加入MARA的好處。黃小燕還特地情商金門超市總經理胡運炤做模板，訂製了260個精緻月餅，當天新鮮出爐的運到會場，讓出席眾人備感受寵。

Chelmsford市” 川霸王”東主，苟燕妮、戴朝陽夫婦。(周菊子攝)

                                    九龍餐廳東主黃子興透露，當初他是應陳素描之邀，參加一個會議，沒想到之後就變成會長了。不過他很高興自己能為亞裔餐飲業出力做事，尤其是幫助平日過於忙碌，無暇關注政府訊息，但又必須遵循法規，以順利營業的亞裔餐飲業者。他加入MARA這2年來，借助MRA和華美福利會的各種資源，和MARA夥伴們同心協力的拓展會務，提供服務，會員人數已增至五、六十人，遍佈麻州各地，將來必能集結出更廣大的力量，為亞裔餐飲業者發聲。

MRA副總裁Kerry Miller。 (周菊子攝)

                      MRA副總裁Kerry Miller透露，MRA有大約1800名會員，代表大約5000家餐館，國家電網 (National Grid) 去年撥款25萬元，以每家1000元額度，幫助小企業的活動，MRA共約申請到150筆補助，其中約20家就是麻州亞裔餐飲協會的會員。黃子興和鄺炎彬相信MRA和MARA攜手合作，能夠為餐飲業者提供更多協助。 (更新版)

                                        

華美福利會執行長陳美霞。 (周菊子攝)

郭雅致表演嗩吶。 (MARA提供，Kevin Zheng攝))

華埠主街週六舞獅 8/12獅隊來自Worcester

 

中華專協導覽遊賞哈佛建築

           

中華專協董事長周萬欽(右)和會長林致中(左)送感謝狀給
帶領導覽的蕭景文(中)。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange )紐英崙中華專業人員協會8月6日請來哈佛建築研究所畢業的蕭景文，帶永久會員參觀哈佛大學，窺探校園建築奧秘。

哈佛大學建於1636年，歷史悠久，校內許多建築物，各有特色。人們平常走過，路過，多半只覺美麗、古典，大都未深究。中華專協會董事長周萬欽，會長林致中和前董事長蔡明機等一眾人，這天跟著蕭景文從集合地點的史密斯校園中心開始，一路看懷德納圖書館，Sever Hall，木匠(Carpenter)視覺藝術中心，哈佛藝術博物館，賽克勒(Sackler)博物館，哈佛設計學院，聽到了許多故事。

中華專協哈佛大學建築參訪團合影。(周菊子攝)

在麻州地鐵哈佛站旁邊的史密斯校園中心( Richard A. and Susan F. Smith) 校園中心建於1963年，再於2018年翻修成如今大片玻璃牆，讓人一眼看透，拉近校園與人們之間距離的設計。

建於1914年的懷德納 (Widener) 圖書館，是鐵達尼號 (Titanic) 遇難者的母親，為紀念1907年從哈佛畢業，喜歡收藏書的兒子，也是費城商人Harry Elkins Widener，除了350萬冊藏書，還追加捐贈350萬美元，蓋成的一座新古典主義風格圖書館，是目前全世界最大，歷史最悠久的圖書館。

中華專協哈佛大學建築參訪團在史密斯中心出發前合影。(周菊子攝)

蕭景文在這圖書館前指著牆柱頂端雕飾，解釋這是仿古希臘羅馬建築。他指出館內的挑高建築設計，也是特色之一。礙於哈佛大學圖書館並不對非哈佛學生外開放，專協的這參訪團無緣入內參觀。

就在懷德納圖書館旁邊的Sever Hall，是由美國最出名的三名建築師之一，有著羅馬復興之父稱謂的Henry Hobson Richardson所設計，建於1878年及1880年，以雕鏤紅磚著稱，如今已是美國內政部指定的國家歷史地標之一。

蕭景文說明哈佛大學藝術館的翻新設計，採用雨林板，
是為居民要求設計必須和周遭環境相配合。(周菊子攝)

波士頓公共圖書館總館對面的三一教堂，也是H.H. Richardson所設計。

哈佛電影檔案館坐落於其中的木匠(Carpenter)視覺藝術中心，則是全美唯一由法國建築師所設計的建築物，由極為著名的摩登建築設計施Le Corbusier (柯比意)所設計，底層架空，以支柱挑空，屋頂花園設計成濕度最少，各層牆壁位置以空間需求來決定，採用大面長窗玻璃，給人透視感，但建築外牆非常粗曠。

賽克勒博物館大門前兩側的圓柱，原本是承接
連接兩棟建築物間高架橋梁的通風管道。(周菊子攝)

哈佛藝術博物館把屋頂設計成有如夜明珠，還為了配合附近居民的要求，採用雨林板，來達到遮陽以及氣流的漸層疏通。賽克勒博物館外牆的兩個看來怪異的圓柱，原來是當年設計作為兩棟建築物相連時的通風管道，但結果連接兩棟建築的橋樑沒蓋，通風圓柱就空置在那，成了獨特的標記。

中華專協原本的預告是要哈佛大學、麻省理工學院各參訪5棟建築物，但2個多小時要邊走邊講，根本無法講完，於是這次只看了哈佛，MIT得等下次再續。

哈佛設計學院的建築，在人們眼中有著喜歡與不喜歡的兩極反應。(周菊子攝)

Sever Hall是由美國三大最著名建築設計師之一的H. H. Richardson所設計。(周菊子攝)

哈佛電影檔案館在其內木匠(Carpenter)視覺藝術中心， 是Le Corbusier (柯比意)的作品。

哈佛校園內這座來自中國圓明園的石碑，是由哈佛中國同學會
於1936年捐贈，慶祝母校300周年校慶的禮物。(周菊子攝)

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF SWIM SAFE PROGRAM THROUGH GRANT OPPORTUNITY

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF SWIM SAFE PROGRAM THROUGH GRANT OPPORTUNITY   Boston to invest $250,000 in funding to provide year-round support for free swim lessons, with applications now open for partner organizations.

BOSTON - Tuesday, August 15, 2023 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu, the City of Boston’s Human Services Cabinet, and Boston Centers for Youth & Families announced applications are now open for Swim Safe Boston grants to support non-profit organizations in Boston that provide free aquatics programming to residents. The grant funding follows a successful launch of the Swim Safe program announced this summer. Demand for free swim lessons has been high, demonstrating the need for an expansion of the Swim Safe campaign. Through these grants, the city is allocating additional funding to offer year-round capacity, especially for beginner-level swim lessons.  Additionally, the City is acting with urgency to renovate several city-owned pools, many of which were built in the 1970s. Mayor Wu has made an unprecedented commitment to aquatics programming by commissioning a first-ever citywide evaluation of aquatics infrastructure with the goal of expediting the improvements needed to get city pools back open. In addition to the assessment, this fiscal year, Mayor Wu allocated $34.3 million in the FY24-FY28 capital plan for repairing and renovating the city's pools. “Swimming is a life skill that goes beyond the summer months, so we’re thrilled to be able to expand the Swim Safe lessons year-round,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I encourage all community partners offering aquatics programming to apply for these grants so we can continue growing this successful initiative. By eliminating financial barriers to lessons and investing in our pool facilities, we’re making Boston a safer, more fun place for families.” Interested Swim Safe grant applicants should carefully review the application materials and fill out this form to be considered for a Swim Safe grant. Awardees must be non-profit organizations that operate aquatics facilities that are located in the City of Boston. The maximum award that will be considered for this opportunity is $150,000. The grant application will close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2023.  Swim Safe is part of Mayor Wu’s Connect, Learn, Explore: Commitment to Youth, a commitment to giving Boston youth an opportunity to explore and discover their passions. The funding to support swim instruction builds off the Mayor’s commitment to ensure all Boston kids learn to swim and can safely enjoy our City’s coastline and pools. “The Swim Safe Boston grant program will help ensure that our partners have year-round support to help meet the high demand for swim lessons in Boston,” said Human Services Chief José F. Massó. “We are excited to see so much enthusiasm for swimming and we want to continue the momentum generated this summer into the school-year.” As a coastal city with numerous pools and natural bodies of water, Boston families have an array of opportunities to enjoy water recreation. Swim Safe is focused on removing barriers to water access and increasing safety among Boston residents. Nationally, fatal drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 years old and the second leading cause of injury death for children ages 5-14 (CDC). Black and Latino youth are less likely to know how to swim and therefore are at higher risk of drowning (CDC).  The City of Boston is seeking to remedy this disparity by investing in swim lessons, repairing the city’s public pools, and recruiting and training lifeguards to staff the city’s pools. The grant program announced today will be available to organizations that operate pools in Boston and have experience offering programming to the public. Swim lessons will be prioritized for funding, though other free aquatics programming is also eligible for Swim Safe grant support.  "I’m a mom of five year old twin boys and grateful for the opportunity to get them comfortable and safe in the water," said Elizabeth Lendor, whose twin boys are learning to swim at BCYF Hennigan Community Center. "With paid swim programs at capacity in and around the City of Boston, it’s nothing short of a miracle that we were able to get a spot for both boys and for free!" “Boston Centers for Youth & Families is excited to be able to offer funding to support our aquatics partners across the city,” said Marta E. Rivera, Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families. “Together, we operate pools in every neighborhood and will use this partnership to offer free and accessible aquatics programming to Boston’s families.”   The City of Boston is working across departments to renovate several of our city-owned pools, following years of disinvestment. Over the last 3 months, the City has reopened the BCYF Paris Street Pool in East Boston and the BCYF Hennigan Pool in Jamaica Plain. The BCYF Paris Street Pool reopening was the result of a $10.2 million investment, featuring an open, airy main entrance and lobby, fully renovated changing rooms, a new pool filter room, mechanical and electrical upgrades, building interior and exterior repairs, and other upgrades making it a more inviting and user-friendly space. More on the status of our City pools can be found here.

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES GRANTS FOR ENERGY ASSESSMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDINGS, AN IMPORTANT STEP TO DECARBONIZE BOSTON’S HOUSING STOCK

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES GRANTS FOR ENERGY ASSESSMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDINGS, AN IMPORTANT STEP TO DECARBONIZE BOSTON’S HOUSING STOCK  Funding to help property owners assess needs to make their buildings energy efficient

 

BOSTON - Monday, August 14, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH) announced the launch of a grant program aimed at supporting deep green energy retrofits (GERs) and decarbonization efforts in existing affordable housing buildings. Mayor Wu initially announced her intention to launch this program in March. The City now has established funding for energy assessments for income-restricted residential buildings, which is the first step in facilitating significant reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions. This initiative, supported through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, aligns with the City of Boston's commitment to the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), which sets requirements for large buildings to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions gradually to net zero by 2050. Through this grant program, the City is seeking to further the Mayor’s Green New Deal by creating cleaner affordable housing units to enhance the climate, livability and justice of Boston’s communities.   “Creating clean homes and improving the health of our communities must be at the center of our climate action,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to the Mayor’s Office of Housing for their leadership in our Green New Deal efforts to make Boston’s buildings greener and more energy efficient.”  "By supporting comprehensive energy assessments, we are empowering building owners to make informed decisions and take meaningful steps towards a sustainable and healthier future,” said Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing. “This program aligns with our commitment to BERDO and reinforces our dedication to equity, affordability, and environmental stewardship. We are excited to partner with building owners and continue our efforts to create a more sustainable and healthy Boston."  As part of the support for deep energy retrofits and decarbonization efforts, building owners of affordable housing now have the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $10,000. These funds will be allocated towards comprehensive energy assessments, which will enable building owners to evaluate the current performance of their buildings and develop strategies to achieve substantial energy savings and carbon emission reductions. This initiative will also allow the City to gain more insight into the specific measures that can be taken to significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in affordable housing.  By completing these comprehensive energy assessments, building owners will not only contribute to a greener environment but also enhance the safety, comfort, and sustainability for residents. Moreover, these assessments can serve as a roadmap offering building-specific strategies to comply with BERDO while providing building owners with valuable guidance. Building owners who complete the assessments will be well-positioned to apply for additional funding from MOH and other sources to implement the identified GER measures.  "We firmly believe that the residents of affordable housing in Boston should be the first to experience the transformative benefits of the Green New Deal,” said Green New Deal Director Oliver Sellers-Garcia. “This means providing them with cleaner and more comfortable buildings year-round. Our commitment to this program showcases our strategic utilization of ARPA funding to make targeted investments that enhance quality of life and promote equity. As we move forward, we will persist in our efforts to secure Federal climate funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, leveraging our early successes with ARPA funds. Together, we will continue to build a sustainable future that leaves no one behind."  The City anticipates that the comprehensive energy assessments can be scoped, completed, and with funds disbursed within 3-6 months of the grant award. After a thorough evaluation process, including eligibility confirmation under ARPA guidelines and suitability assessment, MOH received a total of 20 applications representing 56 buildings and 2,078 units across the city. After review, the Office of Housing will be awarding grants to all 20 applicants. The exact amount of funds to be disbursed will be determined based on the approved scopes of work. The Office of Housing will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis. To apply, please visit this link.  "With the Mayor's Office of Housing's support, 2Life Communities can begin to comprehensively plan for the future of Leventhal House, a 254-apartment building that has served hundreds of residents for more than 50 years," said Lizbeth Heyer, 2Life Communities' Vice President and Acting CEO. "These funds will allow our organization to explore greater energy efficiency and resiliency, a reduced environmental impact, and, most importantly, enhanced comfort for our residents at Leventhal House for years to come."   It is important to note that while not all the buildings represented are 100% affordable, MOH's grant funds will be proportionally allocated to each comprehensive energy assessment based on the number of eligible affordable units (affordable to households at or below 100% of the Area Median Income).   The City is embedding the Green New Deal throughout City initiatives, making healthier and cleaner communities for all of our residents. In July, Mayor Wu signed an Executive Order (EO) Eliminating the Use of Fossil Fuels in New Construction and Major Renovations of City Buildings. While the EO exempts projects already in procurement, design, or construction, it requires all new municipal buildings and major renovations to operate without fossil fuel usage.  Additionally, previously in March, Mayor Wu launched the Large Building Green Energy Retrofits Program—an initiative under the Mayor’s Office of Housing supported by $10 million in ARPA funding. Today’s announcement is an update to this programming, granting $10,000 for technical assistance grants that help building owners plan toward achieving BERDO compliance and deep energy retrofits of their buildings. The City intends to provide additional funding when the assessments are complete. These green energy retrofitting measures include installation of energy-efficient lighting and appliances, installation of solar panels, and more. The City announced its intention to expand on these initiatives with a retrofit program for smaller residential buildings and a program specific to retrofitting the Boston Housing Authority. These programs that will mitigate carbon emissions from the building sector and improve housing affordability reinforce the Mayor’s commitment to a Green New Deal approach to working toward environmental and economic justice in Boston.

波士頓兒童博物館本月推出數學營

Summer of Math: Interactive Math Adventure Trail Launches at Boston Children’s Museum

MathTalk and partners to launch three more MathTrails throughout Cambridge this month
at Magazine Beach, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School, and in The Port 

BOSTON, MA— August 14, 2023 — In an exciting collaboration to boost math education, Boston Children's Museum is teaming up with MathTalk to launch a brand-new MathTrail — an outdoor math adventure designed to unleash a “Mathsplosion” in the Greater Boston community. Spanning the Harborwalk outside the Museum, the interactive trail brings the enchanting world of math to life in a whole new way.

As families embark on this math-filled journey, they will encounter a vibrant array of mathematics-related concepts seamlessly integrated into the trail's design. The trail offers interactive experiences, enhanced by augmented reality like the use of the Measure! Everything! App. The installations and their digital experiences through the app simplify complex math concepts for young minds, such as identifying shapes, comparing gull and T. Rex footprints, and understanding Venn diagrams. With every step, children are immersed in a playful blend of creativity, curiosity, and learning, forging a deeper connection with math concepts beyond the classroom.

“We are happy to bring interactivity to life through this trail at Boston Children’s Museum,” said Omo Moses, Founder, MathTalk. “Boston Children's Museum has been an excellent partner in this endeavor, sharing our passion for igniting a love for math in young minds. Together, we believe that the power of interactive learning experiences embedded in their community can spark curiosity and make math enjoyable for children.” 

"We are delighted to collaborate with MathTalk on this innovative project," expressed Carole Charnow, President & CEO, Boston Children's Museum. "The MathTrail embodies our commitment to creating meaningful and playful educational experiences. This math adventure will undoubtedly captivate young learners and nurture their love for exploration and discovery."

With the Museum welcoming an estimated 400,000 visitors annually, the MathTrail's reach is poised to extend far beyond the Museum walls. 

As math scores persistently decline across the nation, including in Massachusetts, interactive math learning can serve as a powerful tool to revitalize and uplift students' academic performance. The trail is the first of four math adventures set to launch this Summer, marking the expansion of MathTalk's mission to ignite a passion for math through a summer full of interactive learning experiences in the heart of Greater Boston and beyond. The upcoming trails are set to launch in August at Magazine Beach, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School, and in The Port neighborhood in Cambridge. 

With 14 MathTrails in communities and 20 in development with partners, MathTalk envisions creating 100 MathTrails in the next decade bringing math education to communities far and wide.