新加坡豪華酒店Raffles 跨入美國首站波士頓 9月18日開幕式

Raffle Boston執行長 Omer Acar (右二) 告訴波士頓市市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)
酒吧內的酒櫃是由一整片的巴西玫瑰木打磨做成，不僅造價約50萬元，
運進酒店也大費周章，就是為了營造與眾不同的感覺。 (周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 新加坡豪華酒店品牌Raffles 跨進美國市場的第一家酒店 Raffles Boston，9月15日開門營業，18日在颶風Lee過境後，請波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 出席開幕接待會，參觀這樓高35層，有6家餐館、酒吧，147個房間，入住費每晚1300元起跳的豪華酒店。

Raffle Boston 坐落在430 Stuart Street。
就再Fairmont Copley Plaza附近。 (周菊子攝)

              波士頓市一直以來，有不少家豪華酒店，距離Raffles Boston 最近的徒步不到2分鐘的費爾蒙柯普立廣場酒店 (Fairmont Copley)，其他如四季酒店，麗晶酒店 (Ritz-Carlton Boston Common)，以及東方文華 (Mandarin Oriental Boston)，距離都在徒步15分鐘之內。

              在新冠病毒疫情導致波士頓市中心出現許多空置店面之際，座落於史都華街 (Stuart) 430號的Raffle Boston開張，似乎為波士頓經濟帶來更多活力。

              Raffle Boston 是由本地發展商 Noannet集團 (Jordan Warshaw ) 和Saunders 酒店集團( Gary Saunders) ，以及Cain 國際投資公司，薩福克建築公司，Architectural 團隊建築師事務所，以及Madison地產資本公司等合作建造的。

              Raffle Boston執行長 Omer Acar 認為，波士頓市是個蓬勃發展的文化樞紐，有著許多個美國第一，作為始創於1887年的Raffle 這品牌進軍美國市場第一站，再恰當不過。Raffles如今在世界各地擁有18處物業，下個月還將再The OWO開張Raffle London

酒店入口，但接待大堂在17樓。 (周菊子攝)

              這家酒店的特色包括位於17樓，樓高3層，稱為Sky Lobby的接待大堂，這層樓還有3個各有特色的餐飲場所，包括Amar這由大廚George Mendes設立的葡萄牙餐廳Amar，以及名為Raffles Writer’s Lounge的品牌酒吧，牆角處一頂天立地的酒櫃，是用整片巴西玫瑰木做的，造價將近50萬美元，動用高架起重機，費了九牛二虎之力，才搬進17樓。

              在147間酒店房間中，有20間是套房。14樓的總統套房有2167平方英呎那麼寬闊，裡面還放了一台鋼琴。

              4樓有溫泉及健身中心，還有一個長約65英呎的游泳池。

              整個建築計畫共有147個酒店房間，146戶住宅，以及16個聚會場所，為波士頓市提供了2200萬元的公共福利，包括街道修繕，7戶可負擔住宅，以及支援在波士頓市其他地點建可負擔住宅的1300萬元經費。

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)(中)應邀和名廚George Mendes (左)
合影。 (周菊子攝)

圖中酒櫃是由整片巴西玫瑰木做成，造價不下50萬美元。
(周菊子攝)

Amar餐廳一景。 (Raffles Boston)

17樓的露天小食區，可以眺望波士頓市中心風景。 (周菊子攝)

L to R: John Borders IV (City of Boston), Chef Jody Adams (La Padrona), Dan Donahue (Saunders Hotel Group), Eric Poretsky (Cain International),
Jordan Warshaw (Noannet Group), Mayor Michelle Wu, Omer Acar (Raffles), Martha Sheridan (Meet Boston), Representative Jay Livingstone, Oliver Dudler (Raffles Boston)

麻州長Healey 將以行政命令禁州政府機構使用一次性塑膠產品

麻州州長Maura Healey出席在紐約舉行的柯林頓全球計畫會議。
(會議視頻截圖)

               (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 9月18日一早參加在紐約環保週中舉行的柯林頓全球計畫 (Clinton Global Initiative) 會議時，宣佈將以行政命令禁止州政府機構採購一次性使用的塑膠產品，彰顯麻州改善環境汙染的決心與行動。

              這會議由美國前國務卿，希拉蕊柯林頓 (Hillary Clinton)開場，主題為「浪潮翻轉: 如何加速保護海洋的可持續做法 (TIDES TURNING: HOW TO ACCELERATE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION)」。

              主辦方指出，海洋覆蓋了70%的地球表面，製造了50%人們所呼吸的氧氣，調節著氣候，提供了食物，也是生物多元化的源頭，驅動著世界上的經濟。諸如塑膠汙染及工業廢棄物等人類行為，威脅了海洋的健康。

禁止塑膠瓶，禁用塑膠袋，一直是環保人士努力的方向之一。麻州康可鎮 (Concord)是美國第一批禁止銷售一次性塑膠瓶的地方市鎮之一。波士頓市也曾一度禁用一次性塑膠袋，但並未堅持執行。

              奚莉州長指政府有義務制止這樣的損害，並訂立更好的方向。她說麻州很驕傲要成為全美第一個州，禁止採買一次性使用的塑膠瓶，以保護海洋生命，減少二氧化碳排放。

              在短短不到10分鐘的發言中，奚莉州長還宣佈，她將指示州政府機構訂定2030，2040，以及2050年的生物多樣化保育目標，而且麻州要超過環球標準的來執行保護。

              奚莉說，麻州的海洋及森林是麻州最基本的氣候資源，麻州也決心要保護在麻州內已被列為瀕臨滅種危機的430種生物。

              奚莉還提到，從她於今年1月上任州長以來，麻州政府在對抗氣候變遷上，已踏出好幾步，包括設立麻州歷來第一個內閣級的氣候長職位，以可負擔住宅為目標，推出了第一個麻州政府氣候銀行，還訂立規章以防止鱈魚角及全州各地水裏面的氮汙染。她還提到麻州很快將在Vineyard Wind，擁有全美第一個公用事業規模的離岸風電廠。

              英文報章稱，奚莉州長應邀做為這場全球性會議的主講人，增加了她的國際知名度，以及將來的政途潛力。

Asha Janay 上任洛士百利鄰里服務聯絡員

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES NEW ROXBURY NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON, ASHA JANAY

BOSTON - Monday, September 18, 2023 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu announced Asha Janay as the new Roxbury liaison in the Office of Neighborhood Services. Asha will serve as the primary contact for constituents and businesses in the neighborhoods seeking to connect with the Mayor's Office, and will facilitate the delivery of services in collaboration with City departments. “Asha immigrated to Boston at a young age—growing up in Roxbury and attending Madison Park. Her leadership will help us get City Hall out of City Hall, addressing the everyday concerns of families as our new Roxbury neighborhood liaison,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. The Office of Neighborhood Services liaisons play an integral role in connecting residents to City services and resources by facilitating citizen input in all aspects of local government through service requests, attending neighborhood meetings, and emergency responses. Asha was born in Somalia and raised in Roxbury. She attended the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School and graduated from Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. She earned her bachelor’s in psychology from Lesley University. Asha previously worked at MCPAP for Moms as a Resource and Referral Specialist, helping pregnant and postpartum individuals and families access treatment and support. This service is available to all providers in Massachusetts working with perinatal people with mental health and or substance use needs. “Asha is poised in being an effective leader serving the Roxbury community,” said Brianna Millor, Chief of the Community Engagement Cabinet. “She has an impressive skill set in providing services, resources, and building relationships with community members through a holistic approach to constituent services. I am grateful to have her on our team.”  Asha is excited to continue to help Roxbury thrive. She looks forward to connecting with constituents, long standing community leaders, small businesses, and local organizations to improve her understanding of the neighborhood's needs, so she can identify the most effective ways to support Roxbury. “Roxbury taught me how to survive and navigate the real world,” said Asha Janay, Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services Roxbury Liaison. “It is a very special place to me and the first neighborhood I lived in since coming to America. Roxbury made me the person I am today.”

 

波士頓市即日起至10月15日慶祝拉丁裔傳統月

MAYOR MICHELLE WU KICKS OFF LATINX HERITAGE MONTH The celebration runs September 15 - October 15

BOSTON -  Friday, September 15, 2023 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston celebrate the start of National Latinx Heritage Month, which runs today through October 15. The City will be providing a variety of programming and events in honor of Latinx cultures and communities that contribute to the vibrancy of Boston. “Our Latinx residents are an essential part of Boston’s cultural fabric, and we honor their contributions during Latinx Heritage Month and beyond,” Mayor Michelle Wu said. “I’m thrilled to announce our Latinx Heritage Month programming, where Boston residents can celebrate and learn about the diversity of Latin American culture and communities all month long.” Ahead of the official start of Latinx Heritage Month, the City’s Equity and Inclusion Cabinet and Latinx Employee Resource Group (ERG) co-hosted their annual Mexican Independence Day Celebration on September 14 at 12 p.m. They will also host a Central American Celebration event on September 17 at 11 a.m. to recognize the independence day of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Both events will take place at City Hall Plaza. On September 19, the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet and Latinx ERG will co-host a Latinx Heritage Month celebration party. The celebration will take place on City Hall Plaza from 4 p.m. through 7 p.m. and feature food, music, dance, and other resources. “The City of Boston’s Latinx Employee Resource Group believes in the power of our unity across our various Latin American identities and honors our cultural similarities as well as differences,” said Luz Johanna Pérez, Chair of the Latinx ERG. “Our annual Latinx Heritage Month celebration will showcase the cultural diversity within our city’s Latinx diaspora. We hope you will join us and experience this culturally vibrant event.”  “Latinx Heritage Month is our moment to be loud and proud of our culture and communities,” said Gladys Oliveros, Latinx Cultural Liaison, Equity and Inclusion Cabinet. “I look forward to celebrating with the Latinx community in City Hall and throughout Boston neighborhoods all month.”   The Boston Public Library will also be hosting resources and programming throughout Latinx Heritage Month to expand opportunities for residents to celebrate and learn about Latin American culture. A full list of events and resources is available on the BPL website.

Throughout Latinx Heritage Month, the City will also launch Fiesta en la Plaza, a series of Latinx-centered cultural activities that will take place over four weekends on City Hall Plaza. The series is produced by Ágora Cultural Architects, a production and consulting firm founded and directed by Latin American women, with the support of the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.  Welcome Fiesta - September 17, 2023 at 12 p.m. This event will celebrate the start of Latinx Heritage Month and feature a comparsa and performances from various Latin American artists residing in Boston, including Jorge Arce, Agua, Sol y Sereno, Eguie Castrillo, Veronica Robles, and Claudio Ragazzi. Cuatro & Poetry - September 22, 2023 at 7 p.m. Artists such as Yara Liceaga and Fabiola Méndez will perform during this celebration of Afro-Antillean rhythms and Latin women's voices. Salsa Night - September 23, 2023 at 5 p.m. Residents can learn Salsa through dance classes on City Hall Plaza and enjoy performances by Clave & Blues and guests. CineFest Latino Boston - October 5, 2023 at 3 p.m. This event will feature two Latin films for a movie night celebrating Latinx culture. Closing Fiesta - October 14, 2023 2 p.m. The final event of the series will include a discussion on Afro-Latin arts and cultures, a performance from the Hyde Square Task Force youth dance group, and a musical closing with Venezuelan harpist Eduardo Betancourt and Newman Fellow Cristela Guerra. “Boston is home to so many incredible Latinx artists, and we look forward to highlighting their cultural legacies through song, dance, film, spoken word, and more during Fiesta en la Plaza,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts & Culture. “Fiesta en la Plaza will be a celebration of art, joy, and community para todos!” “Fiesta en la Plaza invites us to meet friends and families to celebrate everything that unites us,” said Principal and Co-Founder of Ágora Elsa Mosquera-Sterenberg. “With Fiesta en la Plaza, we evoke that traditional community meeting space that our parents and grandparents had in their towns of origin.”

波士頓華埠土地信託會開放日 李素影、梅清焉、莊穎詩、伍國龍當選理事

華埠土地信託會主席李素影(立者)重述該會宗旨。
(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華埠土地信託會 (CCLT) 9月16日早上在信義大廈社區室舉行了2023年開放日，介紹該會目標，刻正努力項目，並同額改選了4名董事。

李素影、梅清焉、莊穎詩、伍國龍 (Rusell Eng)等4人，在無人競爭下，同額當選為理事，其中前3人為連任，伍國龍為新任。公路村住客聯誼會的共同創辦人黃願明任期屆滿，放棄連任的卸下了董事職責。

波士頓華埠土地信託會董事，右起梅清焉，李素影，莊穎詩
同額當選連任。 (周菊子攝)

              由於天氣預報颶風來襲麻州，儘管這天早上波士頓華埠天陰，有風沒下雨，出席人數卻顯然少了些，包括該會現任董事黃國威、鄭繼良、Eddie Hickey、王嘉接在內，僅約20人到會。

華埠土地信託會主席李素影(左)和主任駱理德(右)

              波士頓華埠土地信託會主席李素影，主任駱理德簡略介紹，強調該會宗旨為”共同擁有並看管這片土地，為華埠帶來健康的未來”後，出席者分成三組，討論”如何共同營造一個富有活力的唐人街社區”，”華埠文化歷史足跡”，以及”華埠能源文化認知”。

              在駱理德主持的”如何共同營造一個富有活力的唐人街社區”討論中，參與座談者討論有哪些方法可以保持華埠的可負擔性，該做些什麼來使華埠成為一個更有吸引力的社區，不但適宜人們居住，為移民提供一個可以安身立命，不必因為地區貴族化而擔心失去家園的地方。

駱理德請出席者設想如何才能使華埠成為更吸引人的社區。
(周菊子攝)

              華埠土地信託會目前採取的措施是籌資購買物業，由信託會持有土地所有權，以大約99年土地租約等模式，把房屋所有權以可負擔價格出售給民眾，藉以增加華埠居民的穩定性。目前華埠土地信託會已斥資購有3棟排屋，共11個單位。

駱理德和鄭繼良等人這天請出席者討論，CCLT買下社區內的物業後，該出售，還是出租，才會有更好的穩定華埠效果。他們也希望更多人來集思廣益，看可以採取哪些做法，措施，把華埠變成一個更有吸引力的生機蓬勃社區。

波士頓華埠土地信託會還在做移民歷史文化足跡項目。
(周菊子攝)

駱理德指出，這天分成的三組討論，都是該會刻正研議、努力中的議題。李素影指出，土地信託是最近這二、三十年才流行起來的穩定社區概念，整個麻州內的土地信託會數量也有限。該會雖然資淺，在能源、微電網等各方面的努力，卻已得到各界認可，不但駱理德早前曾獲表揚，她也應邀代表該會，預定下個月到加拿大出席一場研討會，討論世界各地華埠各自面對的處境，以及可能的改進方法。

改善能源使用的微電網項目，也是華埠土地信託會在努力的工作之一。
(周菊子攝)

EMS15人畢業 吳弭市長宣佈下屆實習生領全薪 朱敏妍晉升隊長

波士頓EMS長James Hooley (左一)和波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)
波士頓公共衛生局局長Bisola Ojikutu博士   (右一)   出席EMS 畢業典禮。
(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 波士頓市9月15日在芬紐廳 (Faneuil Hall) 為15名緊急醫療服務 (EMS) 實習生舉行畢業典禮，慶祝朱敏妍 (Michelle Chu) 等3人晉升為隊長。市長吳弭同時宣佈實施新計畫，下一批EMS實習生將和正職人員一樣，年薪69, 732元。

波士頓EMS有15人畢業。 (周菊子攝)

              波士頓緊急醫療服務 (EMS)是棣屬於波士頓公共衛生局的一個單位，目前共有約400人。波士頓市緊急醫療長James Hooley和波士頓公共衛生局局長Bisola Ojikutu博士這天都出席了畢業典禮。

              在15名實習生畢業之外，有Patrick Calter，James McCabe 和 朱敏妍(Michelle Chu)等3人晉升為隊長 (Captain)。

              雖然波士頓市緊急醫療服務部門有大約400人，但華裔屈指可數。在EMS服務已逾10年的朱敏妍，應是該部門歷來第一位華裔EMS隊長。

朱敏妍(中)晉升EMS隊長，父母朱家榮、葉凱珊同來祝賀。
(周菊子攝)

              升任隊長後，他們將做為主管，輔導並支持同僚。他們3人還都受過實地和派遣運作的訓練。

              波士頓市EMS招募學院 (Boston EMS Recruit Academy) 是全職有薪的培訓項目，參加培訓的學員需接受6個月培訓，以及各種危及生命緊急狀況的實地訓練，並取得州政府EMT證書，才能被派往救護車，以確保民眾在去到醫院前，可以得到最高品質的醫療護理。

              這些實習生在實習期間因應了2400次911緊急呼救。

              下一期學員將有35名學員，預計本月底開課，已開始接受報名。任何有興趣者，都可以上網查看相關資訊， www.boston.gov/ems，填表獲取培訓及就業機會。

              波士頓EMS是紐英倫地區最忙碌的市鎮緊急救護服務隊伍之一，去年回應了13萬4000次的緊急醫療事務。

第128屆波士頓馬拉松賽報名人數破記錄 逾3萬3千人

               (Boston Orange 編譯) 第128屆波士頓馬拉松賽已於9月15日截止報名，波士頓體育會 (BAA)宣佈，在美國銀行開始贊助比賽的這第一年，有3萬3千人申請參賽，創下歷史紀錄，超過2019年的30485人紀錄。

              波士頓體育會董事長兼執行長費雷明 (譯音，Jack Fleming)表示，申請參賽人數破紀錄是路賽在世界各地受歡迎的佐證，也顯示了跑者願意接受挑戰，以贏取波士頓馬拉松賽資格為目標，得以踏在霍普金頓 (Hopkinton) 起跑點上的決心

              第128屆波士頓馬拉松賽將有來自127個國家的公民，以及全美50個州 (加上華府特區)的州民參賽。這些年齡在18歲至82歲的符合資格的運動員，憑藉著他們在全美及世界各地528場比賽的成績，取得波士頓馬拉松賽資格。

              由於比賽場地規模有限，並不是所有符合資格者都能獲得參加第128屆波士頓馬拉松賽的機會。在接受報名週遞交了報名表的符合資格申請參賽者，將依照跑步成績排列。波士頓體育會正在確認所有人的符合資格時間，並將在未來3週，以電郵通知報名者是否獲得參賽機會。

              波士頓體育會將不會預測第128屆波士頓馬拉松賽最後的參賽時間，但請申請者在驗證期間耐心等候，除非經由該會的服務團隊要求，不要向該會查詢申請狀態。

              波士頓體育會籲請未獲得馬拉松賽參賽資格者，經由美國銀行波士頓馬拉松賽官方慈善計畫的160個非牟利組織參加比賽。該會也鼓勵有意參加為慈善機構籌款者，直接和個非牟利機構接洽、查詢。

New Record Set for Qualifier Applications to 2024 Boston Marathon in First Year of Partnership with Bank of America

More than 33,000 qualified participants applied for entry during Registration Week

 

BOSTON – Qualifier registration for the 128^th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America has closed at the end of Registration Week (Sept. 11-15) with a record-setting 33,000 applications received by the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.). This is the highest number of qualifier applications received in Boston Marathon registration history, surpassing the previous record of 30,458 qualifier entries for the 2019 event. The record comes in the first year of the Boston Marathon’s presenting partnership with Bank of America. 

 

“The B.A.A. admires the running community’s desire and determination to experience the 128^th Boston Marathon,” said Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the B.A.A. “Receiving a record number of qualifier applications is a testament to the strength of road racing around the world and speaks to runners’ commitment to taking on the challenge of earning a Boston Marathon qualifying time with the goal of reaching the start line in Hopkinton.”

 

Citizens of 127 countries and all 50 U.S. states (plus Washington, D.C.) were among the applicants for the 128^th Boston Marathon. Athletes qualified at more than 528 races across the United States and around the world, with applicants ranging in age from 18 to 82.

 

Due to field size limitations, not all qualifiers will be accepted into the 128^th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. Athletes who submitted qualifier applications during Registration Week will be ranked based on their qualifying performance. The B.A.A. is in the process of verifying all qualifying times and will email acceptances and non-acceptances within the next three weeks.

 

The B.A.A. will not predict the "cut-off" time needed to gain entry into the 128^th Boston Marathon and asks for athletes’ cooperation and patience during this verification process. Athletes are asked not to contact the B.A.A. to check on the status of their entry unless requested to do so by a member of our Athlete Services team.

 

For athletes who are not accepted, or those who do not have a Boston Marathon qualifying time, participation is still possible through the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program. All 160 non-profit and charitable members of the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program have begun accepting applicants for next April’s event. Athletes interested in fundraising as part of a charity program are encouraged to contact the non-profit or charity organization directly for more information.

麻州長Healey 解除暴風雨緊急狀態

(Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 今 (16)日中午12點左右，解除之前發佈的麻周進入暴風雨緊急狀態。

早前在 9 月 12 日至 15 日時，奚莉州長宣佈因天氣預報颶風 Lee 將帶來狂風暴雨，並造成淹水等狀況，因此宣佈麻州進入暴風雨緊急狀態。9月16日時，因氣象局已把颶風 Lee的嚴重程度降級為後熱帶暴風雨，因此宣佈解除緊急狀態。

麻州州長奚莉Maura Healey) 表示，讓人欣慰的是颶風 Lee 對麻州各地的影響很小。她很感謝公安人員在過去這星期中快速因應地方上的天氣及淹水狀況。由於數個社區的淹水及道路坍方情況嚴重，州政府相關人員將持續支援，協助地方恢復正常。她也感謝麻州人民的配合防範災害。

Governor Maura Healey Lifts States of Emergency 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey has lifted the states of emergencies she declared on September 12 and 15 related to severe weather and flooding. Hurricane Lee has been downgraded to a post tropical storm. 

“We’re relieved that the impacts of Hurricane Lee have been minimal across Massachusetts and grateful for the public safety officials who have been responding to and preparing for severe weather and flooding throughout the week,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Flooding devastated several of our communities this week and we will continue to support them as they move into the recovery phase. We thank the people of Massachusetts for their preparation and resiliency.”