Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Grants to Improve Water Quality and Habitat in the Buzzards Bay Watershed

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Grants to Improve Water Quality and Habitat in the Buzzards Bay Watershed

Over $550,000 in federal funds awarded to four municipalities

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $558,531 in federally-funded grants for projects that will improve water quality and habitat in the Buzzards Bay watershed. These five grants will fund efforts to treat stormwater discharges, create salt marsh habitat, study the effectiveness of nitrogen removal from a wastewater treatment plant, assess the feasibility of a neighborhood-scale wastewater system, and comply with stormwater management requirements. Grants are awarded by the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) through the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The grants also leverage $336,000 in local, state, and federal funds and in-kind services and help meet Massachusetts’ climate resilience and environmental equity goals.

 

“These local projects address water quality and habitat health goals while focusing on addressing defined community needs,” said Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to going after federal funds such as these to support communities in advancing their environmental protection priorities throughout the watershed.”

 

“The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program makes tremendous efforts to provide not only the technical support for local action but to secure federal funds that make a direct impact on the local level,” said CZM Director Lisa Berry Engler. “Congratulations to these communities for actively working with these partners to improve water quality and habitat in the region.”

 

The following municipalities were awarded grants:

 

• The Town of Fairhaven will receive $125,000 to improve water quality in Outer New Bedford-Fairhaven Harbor by reducing pollution from stormwater runoff. The grant will fund stormwater retrofits, including green infrastructure designs to treat road runoff from Jerusalem Road and leverage other state funding. The runoff currently discharges to a shellfish growing area, causing the area to be closed periodically to shellfishing after rainfall.

 

• The City of New Bedford and its partner, Groundwork Southcoast, will receive $93,531 to hire an engineering firm to conduct a feasibility study and develop design plans for creating a salt marsh habitat in a manmade pond in Riverside Park. The pond is currently overgrown with invasive species and is often used as a dumping ground. The project will return the area to a natural state and create a tidal exchange with the Acushnet River. Groundwork Southcoast and its Green Team, which employs area youth, will work with the city and residents to build environmental stewardship and help ensure that designs for the popular waterfront park meet community needs and environmental sustainability goals.

 

• The Town of Wareham and its partner, the Marine Biological Laboratory, will receive $275,000 to scale up prior pilot studies that showed nitrogen levels can be lowered and effluent quality can be significantly improved at the Wareham Water Pollution Facility by passing effluent through biofilters composed of wood chip media. The proposed Phase 2 field trials will explore how earlier pilot experiments can be scaled to 40-foot-long reactors and will calculate flow rates and infrastructure needed to handle the municipal facility’s daily flows. The Wareham Water Pollution Facility currently has stringent nitrogen limits imposed on its discharge, and the new bioreactor technology, which is more cost-effective than other approaches, would help the town further reduce its nitrogen loading to coastal waters. If successful, the new technology will allow for the increased capacity of the wastewater facility and much-needed expansion of sewering in the town.

 

• The Town of Wareham and its partner, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, will receive $40,000 to assess the feasibility of constructing a neighborhood-scale wastewater system with the purpose of reducing nitrogen pollution from onsite septic systems near Little Harbor Beach on Great Neck. The study will identify potential nearby town-owned property outside the flood zone where the facility might be sited.

 

• The Town of Westport will receive $25,000 to hire a consultant to assist the town with monitoring and investigating municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) discharges to comply with the town’s federal stormwater permit. The proposed work will safeguard the town’s waterbodies and groundwater by assisting with the control of polluted stormwater runoff, which is a major cause of water quality impairments in the town.

 

“Communities in the Buzzards Bay watershed have made it clear they need help dealing with the myriad of wastewater, stormwater, and climate resilience issues they face,” said Executive Director of the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Joe Costa. “We are excited to provide the funding to address these issues and support these important water quality and habitat projects.”

 

“Our region’s waters are its most vital asset and improvements to our water quality not only have environmental benefits but strengthen our local economy,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “The projects selected this year show a diverse and innovative approach to addressing water quality issues in our area. The National Estuary Program is critical in its support for communities throughout the South Coast and Southeastern Massachusetts. I will continue to work in Congress to support the program and applaud the Governor on the selection of these worthwhile projects.”

 

“I am extremely pleased the Town of Wareham will be receiving over $300,000 to improve local water quality and wastewater management,” said Dean of the Massachusetts Senate Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton). “These valuable grant funds will support the deployment of critical technological updates designed to fortify local infrastructure and reduce costs on behalf of Wareham residents. Many thanks to our federal delegation for their advocacy as well as the Marine Biological Laboratory and the Buzzards Bay Coalition for their collaboration with the local community.”

 

“At a time when Wareham is facing challenges associated with the operation of the Water Pollution Control Facility this grant funding is very much appreciated,” said State Representative Susan Gifford (R-Wareham). “I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their assistance.”

 

The Office of Coastal Zone Management is the lead policy and planning agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Created in 1985, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program provides grants and technical assistance to Buzzards Bay watershed communities to protect and restore water quality and natural resources in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed and is one of 28 similar programs designated by the EPA.

波士頓雙十國慶盃乒乓球賽訂10月29、30日舉行

               (Boston Orange) 波士頓慶祝雙十國慶，在遊行、升旗、餐會、酒會之後，還有後續活動。紐英崙中華公所將與安良工商會、波士頓華僑協會合作，在10月29、30兩日，舉辦「雙十國慶杯- 乒乓球華人邀請賽」，預定10月15日截止報名。

              這一比賽將同時慶祝中華民國112年國慶，以及紐英崙中華公所註冊立案100年，由前述三機構合作籌辦，梅宇國負責策畫，以及一應細節。

              這乒乓球比賽為團體賽，比照奧運會團體賽形式進行，由3人組成一隊，這3人須有由美國乒乓球協會 (USTTA) 認可的分數，3人總分數5000，單人2000以下，1200分以上。若無分數，必須在10月15日前先報名，由主辦方評分后再組隊。

              比賽分初賽、決賽兩階段，依序分別訂於10月29日(週日)下午4到6點，以及10月30日 (週一) 下午6到10點舉行。決賽後立即頒獎給前三名，獎金依序為300，200，100元，獎盃各3個。

              3個合辦單位的首長分別為，中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓安良工商會會長陳偉民，波士頓華僑協會會長梅錫銳。

              報名費，每隊30元，報名可發簡訊，寫上各人名字、分數和負責人的電話，洽Steve: 339 927 0790，Mike 617 818 2973。

波士頓僑領陳毓禮辭世 享年91歲

陳毓禮過80歲生日時，波士頓市長萬寧路(Tom Menino) 親自到賀。
(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 波士頓著名僑領，人稱「法蘭克叔叔」的陳毓禮，10月9日晚用膳後，在位於波士頓廣場旁的家裏，於睡夢中辭世，享年91歲。波士頓環球報於10日晚發出悼念文。

麻州州長Charlie Baker和陳毓禮在綠路華埠公園改名為「陳毓哩、黃麗蓉公園」
時，聚眾自拍。 (檔案照片，周菊子攝)

              過去這半個世紀以來，在波士頓華埠內有呼風喚雨之力的，除了陳毓璇，就是陳毓禮。這2兄弟一個在社區，一個在市政府服務，互通消息也互相支援，和社區居民積極互動，勸諭投票，奠定了他倆的影響力。在陳毓璇、陳毓禮相繼於2021年11月，2023年10辭世後，波士頓華埠僑界正式掀頁換篇。

              波士頓環球報形容，陳毓禮在1971年時曾經說，”我們打算登記更多年輕人，過一陣子以後，我們會有華人參選公職。我們必須要有政治力量”。

              也正因為陳毓禮和哥哥陳毓璇有這認知，一直積極帶動華人登記成為選民，而且這些人投票時也幾乎都會聽從他們的建議，因而從華埠到美國首都，無論是想競選市長、州長或聯邦議員的人，都來尋求他們兩兄弟的支持。

陳毓禮和兄姊、兒孫等一家人在公園改名儀式中合影。
(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

              波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)當年競選波士頓市議員，就有陳毓禮全力支持，順利成為波士頓市首名亞裔女性市議員，並於

波士頓市長吳弭在推特上悼念陳毓禮。

8年後再上層樓，成為波士頓市有史以來首名經由選票產生的女市長。她說，”過去這幾十年來，他都是華埠人民生活的支柱”。

              就像陳毓璇當年被人譽為波士頓華埠的地下市長，陳毓禮也在波士頓環球報這篇文章中被形容為”非正式華埠市長”。他是一個標誌性鄰里家族中最小的孩子，也是波士頓市政府中的三朝元老，一連在Kevin H. White、雷夫連 (Raymond L. Flynn) 、以及萬寧路 (Thomas M. Menino) 等3位市長任內，擔任採購局局長 (purchasing agent) 。

              麻州第一所以亞裔耆英為主要對象的護理中心-中華頤養院，其共同創辦人陳秀英 (Helen Chin Schlichte) 說，”法蘭克叔叔永遠都是在為社區著想”。

              波士頓環球報稱，陳毓禮是在市政府砥礪了他的政治敏感度，並經由他和市府官員，例如波士頓市的手名黑人副市長

          Clarence “Jeep” Jones等人的友誼，在亞裔和黑人間搭起了橋梁。

              1993年時，他告訴波士頓環球報，” 政治是我的社區能夠得到一些福利的唯一途徑” 。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn發表悼文，追思陳毓禮。

              吳弭透露，當年她在哈佛大學法學院就讀，進波士頓市政府實習，想要競選市議員時，那時的市長萬寧路只告訴她一件事，”去見法蘭克叔叔”，而那時候，她甚至不知道這個人是誰。

              於是她發出一封很正式的電子郵件，介紹自己，。次日，她的電話就響了。她還記得陳毓禮說，”吳小姐，這是法蘭克叔叔”。吳弭覺得，陳毓禮即使是對一個完全陌生的人，都可以是家人，並竭盡所能幫忙。

              陳秀英則形容到，儘管陳毓禮成為了地方鄰里及亞裔社區的族長，但他卻十分安靜，謙卑，做他的事，不爭聚光燈。他只是做他的事。

              在陳毓禮和他那把華珍樓 (China Pearl)變成華埠美食目的地，以及吸引政客的磁石的兄弟陳毓璇一起，他們帶給華埠的成果包括大同村可負擔住宅，中華頤養院，以及華美福利會 (後改名為亞美福利會)。

              他們也在很多事情上有著重要份量，包括為華埠爭取到一週幾天的收垃圾，在紅燈區盤據一旁之際維護街道安全，還說服了市政府以一元把泰勒街上的昆士小學舊校舍賣給了紐英崙中華公所。

              陳毓禮的大部分成就來自他把他在華埠、市政府、州政府遇到的每一個人連結起來。

              已從Goodwin Procter律師事務所合夥人之位退休，現為波士頓基金會亞美社區基金創辦人暨主席的李保華 (Paul W. Lee) 說，” 對我來說，法蘭克是個具有傳奇色彩的人” 。

              他說，”人們非常尊敬並喜愛他”，”他和來自各地的人都合得來，而且從來不會忘記一個名字，或一張臉，所以每當有事情需要做時，他總是有認識的人”。

              從1970年代初，民選官員大都忽視華埠時，陳毓禮藉由人數漸增的移民和亞裔居民一起，為政治未來奠定了基礎。             

              被Kevin White市長指派為處理鄰里問題的申訴委員會共同主席後，陳毓禮開始研究在市府選舉中，那些人投了票。

              2007年時，陳毓禮告訴波士頓環球報，” 我翻閱了所有的選民名單，那兒只有300名已登記的華裔選民”。”於是我們了解到:你必須有選票。你沒有選票，你就沒有影響力”。

              陳毓禮和他哥哥陳毓璇於是展開了逐戶登記選民活動。幾年之內，他們就把300名已登記選民這數目，增加到了3600。

              “然後人們就開始注意了” 。陳毓禮說起這時，臉上露出了微笑。

              陳毓禮和他的妻子黃杏蓉 (Kathleen)在大波士頓的亞裔社區中廣為人知。他們的致力改善社區也在2019年，經由把綠路 (Rose Kennedy Greenway) 華埠段改名為”陳毓禮和黃麗蓉公園 (Auntie Kay and Uncle Frank Chin Park)，得到表揚。

              在改名儀式中，時任麻州州長的查理貝克 (Charlie Baker)說，”毫無疑問的，這兩人對這個社區中成千上百的人，也進而對這偉大的，我們稱之為波士頓的城市，有深遠而正面的影響”。”沒有像法蘭克叔叔和蓉姑 (Uncle Frank and Auntie Kay) 這樣的人的努力，波士頓市不會有如今日”。

              陳毓禮1932年7月23日在波士頓出生，他是藥草師陳華和黃蓮綵的最小的兒子。他的母親在他出生幾小時後，逝於血栓併發症。

              起初對街的一名媽媽照顧他，直到他父親幾年後因中風去世。陳家的6名小孩接著搬到中國，和陳華的髮妻梅顏香 (Ngan Heung Moy) 住在一起。那時，梅顏香自己還有4個小孩。

              第二次世界大戰後，這6名小孩回到波士頓，起初住在華埠一棟冷水屋內。

              陳毓禮的大姊阮陳金鳳就住在陳毓禮的隔壁。她說，”他敞開胸懷，實踐大愛，每一個人都是他的朋友。他的一生結識了那麼多朋友”。

              陳毓禮上過Merrimack大學，後來離校幫他哥哥拓展生意。

              這兩兄弟都曾加入陸軍參戰。陳毓璇和William Bulger共事，也奠下了William Bulger成為麻州參議會議長後，幫助陳家成就許多政治關係的基礎。

              1961年時，陳毓禮和在中國出生的黃麗蓉結婚了。她在華埠經營麗禮禮品古董店 (Cathay Corner) ，使得那兒也成了鄰居們的聚會場所。她在2017年辭世。

              在擔任波士頓市政府的採購局局長之餘，陳毓禮還經營一家公司，供應紙製品給餐館和洗衣店。

              不過，改善華埠卻幾乎是他追尋的另一份全職工作。

              李保華說，”他關心幫助移民定居的事”，”他真的關心小企業、餐館、烘培店、商鋪”。

              就像許多人一樣，李保華也把陳毓禮視為父親型人物，”他真的是回饋社區的模範”。

              陳家將會宣佈追思會日期。陳毓禮身後遺有大姊阮陳金鳳 (Amy Goon) ，兒子陳孟君 (Mark)，住在新罕布夏州Salem的姊姊阮陳月娥 (Rose Len) ，以及3名孫子女。

              陳孟君說，”他是那麼的致力服務社區，和社區有關的事他都心胸寬大，但是那並未阻礙他做為我母親的好丈夫，以及作為一名很棒的父親”。

              吳弭市長說，”如果不是法蘭克叔叔，我不會擔任今日的角色，而且有數以千計的人都可以這樣說”。”最重要的是我會記得他，有如家人”，”從第一次的介紹電話那一刻開始，到之後的每一個珍貴的晤面，會談，那就是他，我們每一個人的家人”。 (更新版)

麻州政府推出新計畫 攜手地方市鎮爭取聯邦經費

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Federal Funds Partnership for Massachusetts Municipalities and Tribes

WORCESTER – Today, at the 2023 Statewide Municipal Partnerships Conference, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll announced that the administration is launching a new Massachusetts Federal Funds Partnership for Municipalities and Tribes to assist with their efforts to apply for and win federal funding. The Partnership will convene monthly and is open to elected leaders and staff from all 357 cities, towns and federally recognized tribes in Massachusetts. In keeping with the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to aggressively compete for federal funding, the Partnership will provide targeted updates on relevant federal funding opportunities and resources for technical assistance and state matching funds. 
 

“I said on day one of our administration that we were going to aggressively compete for federal dollars to support crucial projects that support economic development in Massachusetts communities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our cities, towns and tribes have unique opportunities to apply for this funding, and through this new Federal Funds Partnership, we can help them to identify opportunities that they may be eligible for and provide them with the support they need to win.” 
 

“As a former Mayor, I know how hard it can be to navigate the process for available funds,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This partnership will open lines of communication between the state, federal offices and municipalities on the ground. We want to make it easy for everyone to get the information they need and access the resources available to them so they can bring home federal dollars to their communities. I'm excited to kick off the first meeting later this month.”  
 

The Partnership will be overseen by the Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey, who is charged with implementing a whole of government strategy to maximize the federal dollars coming to Massachusetts. 

 

“Enabling local governments to secure federal funding for their communities is a critical part of our strategy to compete for every federal dollar available to Massachusetts,” said Director of Federal Funds & Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey. “We look forward to the opportunity to support municipalities and tribes, and ensure they our able to continue Massachusetts’ success in leveraging the historic investments made available by the Biden Administration in infrastructure, climate resiliency, workforce development, and more.”  
 

These meetings will run in partnership with the Regional Planning Associations and the Massachusetts Municipal Association to ensure that municipalities and tribes know about recently announced grant programs, and are connected with the many resources that the RPAs, MMA and state agencies have to support their federal funding applications. The first monthly Partnership meeting will be held on October 25^th and will be kicked off by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. 

Healey政府慶祝減稅方案將嘉惠10萬餘耆英

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Tax Cut Savings for Seniors and Their Families 

A 100% increase in the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, the largest ever in Massachusetts, will benefit 100,000+ seniors 

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura T. Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll visited the Northborough Senior Center to celebrate the doubling of the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, which will help more than 100,000 Massachusetts seniors save $2,400 a year. Governor Healey signed this tax credit into law last week as part of Massachusetts' first tax cuts in over 20 years. Today’s visit is the first stop dedicated to seniors on the administration's Cutting Taxes, Saving You Money tour.  

“When I ran for office, I committed to keeping our seniors in Massachusetts by making this state more affordable, and this tax credit a necessary step towards achieving this goal,” said Governor Healey. “These tax cuts will bring much needed relief to the seniors throughout the state and will support them as they continue to thrive here.” 

“These tax cuts are permanent. They’re here to help seniors save more money year after year,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “As a former Mayor, it is important to deliver much needed relief so people can stay in Massachusetts. We’re thrilled to continue meeting folks across the state to share how these tax cuts will benefit them.”  

"Thank you, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, for coming to Northborough to highlight this much needed relief for our seniors, like doubling the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit," said Chair of the Northborough Select Board Mitch Cohen. "I am excited to continue building on this work with the board and continue helping our seniors alongside the Healey-Driscoll Administration." 

Provisions of the tax cuts package that will save seniors money include: 

• Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit – Doubles the credit, from $1,200 to $2,400 for low-income seniors to help minimizes their taxes. 

• Senior Property Tax Volunteer Program: Increases from $1,500 to $2,000 the maximum that municipalities may allow for seniors to reduce from their property tax to minimize the impact of property taxes. 

• Child and Family Tax Credit – Family members who care for the seniors in their life will also benefit from the expanded Child and Family Tax Credit. It eliminates the two-dependent cap and increases the credit from $180 per dependent child, disabled adult, or senior to $310 for 2023 and to $440 on a permanent basis, starting in 2024. An estimated 565,000 families will benefit, and this will be the most generous universal child and dependent tax credit in the county. 

• Estate Tax: Increases the threshold from $1 million to $2 million with a credit that mitigates the cliff effect. This change brings Massachusetts more in line with other states, allows seniors pass on generational wealth, and makes it more attractive to retire and age in Massachusetts. 

Last week’s tax bill signing, included necessary support for our families through the expansion of the Child & Dependent Tax Credit, various rental deduction, shorten the capital gain tax and much more. On Thursday, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll visited Gardner Elementary School and the Haverhill YMCA to celebrate the nation’s most generous Child and Family Tax Credit. Additional visits will be planned in the coming days to celebrate relief for businesses, residents, and more. 

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