波士頓2024「愛你的街區」訂4月6、20、27日發動鄰里大掃除

MAYOR MICHELLE WU, OFFICE OF CIVIC ORGANIZING ANNOUNCE 2024  LOVE YOUR BLOCK SPRING CLEANUPS

BOSTON - Monday, March 4, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Civic Organizing (OCO) announced the Love Your Block spring 2024 cleanups will take place on April 6, April 20, and April 27. Love Your Block is a Citywide community service event that invites community members to lead in hosting a neighborhood cleanup or joining a cleanup as an individual volunteer. Love Your Block neighborhood beautification projects include cleaning up trash on sidewalks and streets, park revitalization, and flower planting. The Love Your Block application is open for volunteers to sign up to become a host or join a neighborhood cleanup here. OCO will connect individuals with a cleanup site in their neighborhood once all sites are finalized.  “Love your Block cleanups are a perfect way to enjoy the upcoming spring weather while helping your local community look vibrant and clean,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The City is proud to help supply the tools to host group cleanups and assist individuals in finding a Love Your Block volunteer opportunity near them.” Cleanups will take place in every neighborhood of Boston over the course of three weekends.  The dates are as follows: Saturday, April 6: Allston/Brighton, Back Bay/Beacon Hill, Fenway/Kenmore, Mission Hill, South Boston, West Roxbury Saturday, April 20: Charlestown, East Boston, North End/West End/Wharf District, Chinatown/Downtown/Leather District, South End/Bay Village Saturday, April 27: Roxbury, Mid-Dorchester, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain The Love Your Block program was first created in 2015 with a three-year grant awarded to the City of Boston by Cities of Service. After the grant's expiration in 2018, Love Your Block became a permanent City program under the Mayor’s Office of Civic Organizing (within the Community Engagement Cabinet). This year, OCO will partner with Boston Public Library and Boston Centers for Youth & Families who will serve as host sites for community members to pick up and drop off cleanup tools. All sites are listed on the Love Your Block sign up form. Tool collection is scheduled from 9:00 -10:00 a.m., with returns to the same location between 12:00 -2:00 p.m. "Having served as East Boston's liaison, I've seen the transformative power of this initiative firsthand,” said Director of Civic Organizing Nathalia Benitez-Perez. “Love Your Block empowers residents to take charge of their community's well-being through collective action and beautification efforts. I'm thrilled to carry forward this tradition of fostering empowerment and unity." In past Love Your Block cleanups, neighborhood groups have picked up litter from streets and sidewalks, beautified local parks, cleaned up vacant lots, urban wilds, and more. For tips on how to plan and host a cleanup in your neighborhood, OCO has created a helpful guide. “In 2022, fourteen volunteers from Prospect Hill and Mt. Hope neighborhoods of Roslindale turned out to clean up the pedestrian walkways of the Blakemore Street Bridge,” said Friends of Blakemore Bridge Co-Founder Meri Bond. “By the end of the day not only had they removed the leaves, litter, bottles and nips that had been accumulating along the Bridge for years, they had enjoyed meeting one another and working together for a common purpose.”  The Office of Civic Organizing will provide volunteers with cleanup tools including trash bags, gloves, brooms, rakes, trash pickers, and a Love Your Block t-shirt.  Hosts leading a cleanup can request tools until Friday, March 22 at 5:00 p.m. here.  “Love Your Block is an event that I look forward to the Mayor’s Office of Civic Organizing leading every year,” said Brianna Millor, Chief of the Community Engagement Cabinet. “This is an effort for our Cabinet alongside Boston residents, community leaders, and volunteers to beautify every Boston neighborhood together. I look forward to seeing everyone in April to keep our neighborhoods clean.”

紐英倫客家鄉親會慶天穿日 吃穿唱跳講究客家味

紐英倫客家鄉親會慶天穿日，逾百人出席。 (謝開明攝)

             (Boston Orange) 紐英倫客家鄉親會3月2日在高地社區體育館慶祝「天穿日」，逾百會員、嘉賓歡聚一堂，暢敘別後種種，享用佳餚美食，欣賞好歌妙舞，還摸彩抽獎，開心無比。

              2024年的「天穿日」是紐英倫客家鄉親會在新冠病毒疫情降溫後，繼2023年夏季烤肉以來的第二次公開活動。             

紐英倫客家鄉親會舞蹈團和老師余嘯渝(後左六)合影。 (謝開明攝)

                          會長劉秀春指出，每年農曆一月廿日的「天穿日」是客家人最有特色的活動之一，網路上已經有非常多關於女媧補天等傳說故事，該會在過去數年的活動中，也介紹過好幾次，所以她更想說的是，非常高興終於有機會再和親朋好友們面對面歡聚，感謝加起來近千歲的民俗舞蹈團員們，個個不向”老”低頭，在余嘯渝老師有教無類的指導下，每週三練舞，健身、聯誼、傳承客家文化。             

紐英倫客家鄉親會會長劉秀春致詞。(謝開明攝)

紐英倫客家鄉親們，這天再次展示團結力量大的客家精神，由會長劉秀春，副會長畢儒宗、邱西薔和全體理事分工合作，不但把會場佈置得很有客家特色，還親自烹煮出各色客家美食，包括鄭雪卿的客家艾草粄、徐滿嬌的炒麵、曾正泉的客家麻糬、曾秀梅的客家擂茶、陳玉瑛的九層粄、陳裕逢的滷筍乾等，讓出席嘉賓們難得的又有機會飽口福，品嘗客家特色菜。

              劉秀春會長也不忘感謝許多出席嘉賓的慷慨解囊捐款，以及僑務委員會和駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處的贊助，包括Wellesley Toyota汽車代理創辦人柯乃南，商業地產發展商游勝雄，蔡坤喜醫師，以及周健夫、王子仁、Cathy Xia，余嘯渝、楊英嬰、江佩蓉等都是該會今年「天穿日」的貴人。

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏還是第一次參加紐英倫客家鄉親會
的天穿日慶祝活動。 (謝開明攝)

              波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏、波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，波士頓僑務委員郭競儒，前任波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬，波士頓僑務顧問馮文鸞，波士頓僑務促進委員康麗雪，波士頓北一女校友會創辦人趙小怡，前任紐英崙中華專業人員協會董事長周萬欽，現任中華專協會長盧彥君，這天也都應邀到會，與眾同歡。

              其中的盧彥君還是第一次參加紐英倫客家鄉親會的天穿日活動，初次接觸這客家民俗典故，在他個人的臉書網頁”台灣生醫科學家在美國”上，圖文並茂的記了一筆。

                          早從2013年起，就和紐英倫客家鄉親會結下兄弟情誼，每年”天穿日”都從紐約趕來與盛，曾任大紐約客家鄉親會會長的黃開榮，也偕同妻子羅玉昇再度到會，同歌共歡。(更新版)

會長劉秀春和會員們一起唱客家歌。 (謝開明攝)

美洲臺灣客家聯合總會的前總會長黃開榮夫婦和
美洲臺灣客家聯合總會的前總會長宋玉琴，紐英倫客家鄉親會會長劉秀春。
(謝開明攝)

              

紐英倫客家鄉親會慶天穿日 美嬌娘獻歌舞賞心悅目 (謝開明圖片專輯)

紐英倫客家鄉親會美女舞蹈團獻舞。前排左起，會長劉秀春，陳玉瑛，宋玉琴，黃淑英。

鄭玉春(前)等紐英倫客家鄉親表演舞蹈。

逾百名紐英倫客家鄉親會鄉親及嘉賓，在高地社區中心體育館聚餐慶天穿日，

紐英倫客家鄉親會會長劉秀春歡迎鄉親、嘉賓出席天穿日慶祝會。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長廖朝宏稱許紐英倫客家鄉親會。

波士頓僑務委員郭競儒致詞。

美洲臺灣客家聯合總會的前總會長黃開榮特地遠道趕來。

紐英倫客家鄉親會副會長畢儒宗幫忙布置會場。

左起，紐英倫客家鄉親會會長周一男，鄭雪卿，黃開榮，曾政明，許炳煌等人
一起說客家會讚。

紐英倫客家鄉親會創會會長林岱(右二)等人現場做麻糬。

部分出席鄉親合影。

嘉賓們欣賞節目。

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏代表客委會海外諮詢委員頒發聘書給
美洲臺灣客家聯合總會的前總會長宋玉琴。

波士頓僑務委員郭競儒(左一)，前任僑務委員蔣宗壬(右一)、
史美方(左二)夫婦和波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏(右二)一起拿菜。

美洲臺灣客家聯合總會的前總會長黃開榮夫婦和
美洲臺灣客家聯合總會的前總會長宋玉琴，紐英倫客家鄉親會會長劉秀春。

游勝雄夫婦(左起)、波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮都是嘉賓。

曾任紐英倫中華專業人員協會董事長的蕭蔚(左)和曾任客家會副會長的周健夫。

紐英倫客家鄉親會的舞蹈老師余嘯渝現場帶動跳。

紐英倫客家鄉親會蔚長劉秀春(左一)率會員獻唱。

紐英倫客家鄉親會蔚長劉秀春(左一)率會員獻唱。

嘉賓聚餐。

許炳煌和周一男。

江佩蓉和蕭蔚。

舞蹈團員和老師余嘯渝(前)。

大紐約客家鄉親會前會長黃開榮夫婦害紐英倫客家鄉親會前會長陳裕逢夫婦。

周一男，周萬欽同宗歡聚。

紐英倫客家鄉親會多年來的最佳支持者，現任新英格蘭大波士噸台灣商會副會長的蔡高進。

曾泰明(左)和曾建泉兩兄弟。

聯合路安全網庇護所補助款將在海港區為25個家庭提供臨時居所

                (Boston Orange 摘譯) 麻州聯合路 (United Way)和麻州政府合作擬定，去秋宣佈的”安全網庇護所補助項目 (SafetyNet Shelter Grant Program)”，3月1日公佈將資助10個地點，並在其中的海港區庇護所為大約25個家庭及其兒童提供臨時的遮風避雨處。

               在場地支持下，安全網庇護所補助項目將支持9個機構，為122個家庭，以及每天為300名個人提供每晚24小時，每周7天的服務。

               聯合路麻州董事長及執行長Bob Giannino表示，該機構將撥發安全網避戶所補助款給黑人男民及移民社區聯盟，大波士頓青年會，以及美國一神論協會 (Unitarian Universalist Association)，以協助他們為大波士頓內有兒童的家庭，懷孕者，緊急需要庇護住宿者提供服務。

               Bob Giannino說，很感謝美國一神論協會免費提供地方來支持他們的供應夥伴，為有需要的家庭及兒童們，提供緊急住宿。

               這筆補助款將可在海港地區支持大約25個家庭及其兒童臨時住一晚。安全網庇護所補助款項目還資助在其他9個地點，為符合麻州緊急援助 (EA)家庭庇護所條件，卻無法立即在EA庇護所得到住宿安排的家庭，找地方住。

               黑人男民及移民聯盟 (The Black Refugee & Immigrant Coalition)將在包括大波士頓青年會 (YMCA)等不同的社區中心，為家庭提供環繞式的，以及個案管理服務。特意設立的日間場所將提供社區餐食。以及各種語言的就業，住宅援助等全面性服務。

               聯邦房住局 (HUD)的全國最大技術援助供應商之一的Abt 公司將和黑人難民及移民聯盟合作，提供災難管理，難民及流民系統回應，在找工作，永久性住宅，以及為小孩註冊上學等事情上提供協助。

               2013年成立，每年為大約6000名非洲-加勒比海/黑人移民及難民服務的黑人難民及移民社區聯盟在去年秋天向聯合路表示了合作經營庇護所的興趣。該機構已安置了120戶海地難民及移民。

               大波士頓青年會將為臨時住在海港區庇護所過夜的家庭，提供日間基本需求服務。2023年秋，該機構也為臨時在交通大樓過夜的人，提供各種服務。

Healey州長遞出"麻州領先法" 提生命科學、環境科技10年計畫

Governor Healey Files Mass Leads Act to Grow Economy, Support Businesses, Attract Talent 

Economic Development Bond Bill includes 10-year reauthorization of Life Sciences Initiative and new 10-year climatetech investment 

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura T. Healey filed the Mass Leads Act, her administration’s economic development bond bill that will strengthen Massachusetts’ global leadership in life sciences and launching game-changing investments in climatetech and applied artificial intelligence (AI). Yesterday, Governor Healey announced that the bill includes a 10-year reauthorization of the transformative Life Science Initiative, as well as a new 10-year investment in climatetech to compete in the emerging clean energy sector. 

 

In addition to positioning Massachusetts as a global hub for these innovative sectors, the bill also proposes support for small businesses, rural communities, workforce development, and arts and culture.  

 

This omnibus bill is central to a 10-year economic development strategy to execute the vision outlined in the administration’s 2023 economic development plan: Team Massachusetts: Leading Future Generations.  

 

“The Mass Leads Act invests in every sector of our economy to help businesses and workers succeed in every region of our state – now and for a generation to come. These proposals will position Massachusetts to maintain our competitive edge on the global stage, while also strengthening our economy by supporting workforce development, small businesses, rural communities, and arts and culture,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Every decision in this package was made through a lens of equity, affordability and competitiveness, and we look forward to working with our Legislative partners to deliver for Massachusetts.” 

 

“The Mass Leads Act will do wonders for our local economies,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “It invests in the entrepreneurs and small businesses that are the backbone of our communities, works to close the digital divide and bring more regional equity into our economy, and empowers local government with the tools they need to combat climate change. We have a transformative opportunity to make our economy stronger for generations to come, and we must act on it.” 

 

“The Mass Leads Act’s investments will continue to lengthen our lead across key sectors and ensure that Massachusetts continues to be the best place for innovative companies to start, scale, and succeed; and the best place for talent from all kinds of backgrounds to start and grow fulfilling careers,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “This legislation will invest across all regions and communities across our state and enable us to lead together as Team Massachusetts.”  

 

“Massachusetts has an opportunity to build on its global leadership in life sciences and make new investments in climatetech, workforce and talent development and other sectors of our economy that will set the state and its residents up for future success. The Mass Leads Acts does just that through a mix of borrowing, tax incentives and other investments that all fit within our long-term capital and fiscal plan to responsibly and sustainably position the state to grow jobs and industries and take full advantage of our economic strengths,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Mathew J. Gorzkowicz. 

 

Aligned with the administration’s economic development plan, this proposal is focused on three main priority areas:  

·            Fundamentals – Investing in the fundamentals to enable economic growth    

·           Talent – Retaining and attracting the world’s best talent across all backgrounds  

·           Sectors – Supporting businesses that power the state’s economy 

The bill proposes several new capital programs, in key areas highlighted in the administration’s economic development plan. In addition to the climatetech initiative, new capital programs include:  

·           $100M for the Applied AI Hub for grants to facilitate the application of artificial intelligence (AI) across the state’s ecosystem, which will be informed by the strategic priorities of the AI Strategic Task Force. 

·            $75M for the Massachusetts TechHub to establish a new program in Massachusetts for investment in consortia organized around key technology areas, modeled on the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Regional Technology and Innovation (Tech Hubs) Program.  

·           $25M for the Robotics Investment Program for capital grants to advance the state’s leadership in the robotics sector through research, commercialization, and training.  

·           $25M for the Business Builds Capital Program for a new grant program to support business improvements, such as energy efficiency, via the Business Front Door. 

The bill also includes capital authorizations for existing programs that remain core to the state’s economic development toolbox, including programs offered through the Community One Stop for Growth as well as capital resources for advanced manufacturing and the tourism and cultural sector:  

·           $400M for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program for public infrastructure improvements to spur private development and create jobs. 

·           $100M for the Rural Development Fund to provide financial support for infrastructure improvements and community planning efforts in rural communities. 

·           $100M for the Seaport Economic Council to support marine economies in coastal communities. 

·           $99M for Advanced Manufacturing for flexible grants to support advanced manufacturing initiatives through Mass Tech Collaborative.   

·           $50M for the Cultural Facilities Fund to provide resources for capital improvements at cultural facilities, such as museums, theaters, and performance venues.  

·           $40M for Destination Development Grants to support critical capital improvements at tourism assets across Massachusetts. 

 

In total, this legislation recommends approximately $2.8 billion in bond authorizations for capital-related grantmaking, of which $1.75 billion is dedicated to the reauthorization of existing programs and $1 billion is proposed for new capital initiatives. This bill also proposes $750 million in economic development tax program changes, which includes the creation of the new climatetech incentive program and an expansion of the life sciences incentive program.  

 

Alongside the bill, Governor Healey signed two Executive Orders. One establishes a Cultural Policy Development Advisory Council that will be charged with developing recommendations to the administration for how to support and grow the state’s arts and culture sector. The administration is also committing to identifying and selecting artists-in-residence to collaborate with state agencies and establish, for the first time, an official poet laureate position for the state. 

 

The second Executive Order establishes a council tasked with reviewing the existing procurement laws and related processes for public building construction projects, such as state laws relative to surety bonds, to identify barriers to small, emerging, and diverse businesses, and to make recommendations that address them.   

 

The full legislation and key issue briefs will be available on the EOED website.

麻州參議會推女權掛前美國第一夫人Abigail畫像 第一座有影響力女性雕像人選請民建議

                (Boston Orange摘譯)　麻州參議會在婦女歷史月第一天的今日，３月１日，掛出前美國第一夫人 Abigail Adams的肖像，並呼籲民眾為參議會將第一個永久展出的具影響力麻州女士雕像，遞交建議，

               麻州參議會重新成立，由民主黨籍代表Truro的參議員Julian Cyr 所率領的參議會藝術委員會將負責評審民眾建議。

               Abigail Adams的肖像描繪了一名早年的婦女權益倡議者，她反對奴隸，支持婦女教育，並在辯論美國的結構及治理時，忠告美國建國之父要記得女性。麻州參議會議長Karen E. Spika 在一場公開儀式中，為這幅將永遠掛在參議會大堂的肖像揭幕。

               Abigail Adams是第二位在麻州參議會掛出永久肖像的女性。第一位前任麻州參議會議長Therese Murray。她的肖像掛在參議會閱讀室。這是現任參議會議長Karen E. Spika為擴大女性在麻州眾議會的代表性，所做的最新行動。

               麻州歷史協會會長 Catherine Allgor表示，在麻州議會揭曉Abigail Adams的肖像畫，是朝向擴展美國歷史所邁出的重要步驟。麻州參議會議長Karen E. Spika的致力表揚像Abigail Adams這樣具影響力的女性，認可了從過去聆聽多元聲音的重要性。

               在參議會掛出的這幅Abigail Adams肖像，是麻州歷史協會送給麻州參議會肖像的複製品，1766年時由Benjiamin Blyth 以原始粉彩繪製而成。

               在婦女被禁止投票，或參選的年代，Abigail Adams倡議婦女權益。她曾向她丈夫，一位第一大陸國會成員，說過一句很有名的話，”記得婦女們”。

               Abigail Adams是麻州南岸Weymouth的本土人，在那兒出生長大，後來才搬到Braintree去。在跟隨丈夫周遊，並給予忠告數十年後，當上第一夫人。她和家人後來搬回麻州，住在昆士市。

CVS 和Walgreens將在麻州擴大銷售Mifepristone Healey州長稱許

              (Boston Orange 摘譯) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 3月1日發表聲明，稱許CVS和Walgreens將在包括麻州的數個州，銷售避孕藥 Mifepristone。

               奚莉州長表示， Mifepristone已被人們安全且有效的使用了20多年。CVS 和Walgreens決定擴大人們取得該藥的途徑。麻州也將永遠保護婦女獲得包括用藥墮胎的生育護理。

               今年1月時，奚莉州長和21名州長成立了「生育自由聯盟 (Reproductive Freedom Alliance)」，並就聯邦政府食品藥品管理局 (FDA) 和希波克拉底醫藥聯盟 (Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine )之間的案件，向最高法院遞交了一份”法庭之友摘要(Amicus curiae brief)”。

               去年，在第五巡迴法院作出決定時，奚莉州長立刻採取行動，保護人們在麻州取得mifepristone的途徑。出於她的要求，麻州大學和醫療護理供應者採取行動，囤積了許多劑的mifepristone。她還發佈了一份行政命令來根據現行州法，確認對醫藥墮胎的保護。