波士頓紅襪隊2024球季開幕 州市長同慶"逆轉咀咒"20年

麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 和波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 
和” 逆轉咀咒 (Reverse the Curse)” 這具紀念性路牌及2004紅襪隊球員合影，
(州長辦公室提供)

               (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 為慶祝紅襪隊2004年贏得世界大賽冠軍20週年，波士頓棒球迷4月9日這天，把芬衛球場 (Fenway Park) 擠得水洩不通。麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 和波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 特地安排和” 逆轉咀咒 (Reverse the Curse)” 這具紀念性路牌合影，預祝紅襪隊新球季再奪榮譽。

載著紅襪隊球員的鴨船，上面有"逆轉咀咒"字句。 (州政府辦公室提供)

              20年前的2004年，當波士頓人最喜愛的棒球隊紅襪隊 (Red Sox) 已經一連86年沒拿到過世界冠軍，人們都很鬱悶之際，突然爆出贏得世界盃冠軍喜訊，球迷們樂瘋了，興奮地把Storrow Drive這條路穿過朗費羅大橋上的一塊” 迴轉彎 (Reverse Curve)” 路牌，直接改成了” 逆轉咀咒 (Reverse the Curse)” 。

              這個”咀咒”，據說也是波士頓紅襪隊和紐約洋基隊的球迷們，近百年來互相對峙的來源，熱門到就連非體育迷都幾乎無人不曉。

波士頓消防局四重奏演唱美國國歌。(州政府辦公室提供)

              球迷們想要反轉的咀咒是”貝比魯斯魔咒 (Curse of the Bambino)”。貝比魯斯 (Babe Ruth) 原是波士頓紅襪隊的明星球員，但在1919至1920年時，球隊老闆Harry Frazee為支持自己的戲劇事業，把貝比魯斯的合約賣給了紐約洋基隊。

              傳說，貝比魯斯極為憤怒，咀咒紅襪隊未來100年都拿不到世界盃冠軍。雖然史學家找不到他曾說過這句話的證據，但紅襪隊卻真的就此一直未再贏過世界盃冠軍，直到2004年10月28日，紅襪隊在世界盃大賽中橫掃聖路易斯紅雀隊。

次日，當年的麻州州長密朗尼 (Mitt Romney) 把不斷被球迷改寫為”反轉咀咒 (Reverse the Curse)” 的前述路牌移除了，仿如終止了這一咀咒。

4月9日這天是波士頓紅襪隊的開放日，也是紅襪隊在主場打第一場球賽的日子，對手是巴爾的摩 Baltimore Orioles隊。

為了紀念”逆轉咀咒” 20年，波士頓紅襪隊在9日這天，舉行了很特別的儀式，不單只先安排了鴨船 (Duck Boat) 掛著”逆轉咀咒”的路牌，載著2004年的球員，在芬衛球場外的Commonwealth 酒店後門，90號州際公路隧道前，和麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)和波士頓市市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，拍張合照，還在這2024年的第一場比賽開場前，舉行了特別儀式，由2004年的球隊成員們上台向甫於去年10月過世，57歲的球手Tim Wakefiedl致意。 Wakefield的57歲太太Stacy也在今年2月辭世。

2024年球季開賽第一球，也安排由Wakefield的2名子女中的18歲女兒Brianna投給Jason Varitek，這位前紅襪隊隊長，以及Wakefield的親密朋友。一名球員說，Briana和她哥哥Trevor身後站了40位叔叔。

          4月9日這天，他們還紀念了本月早前過世的紅襪隊前東家Larry Lucchino，以及2023年球季結束前過世的其他球員。

僑聯理事長童惠君訪波士頓 聘張韻蘭當主任

華僑救國聯合總會第18屆理事長童惠珍夫婦到訪，和波士頓僑胞合影。(周菊子攝)

華僑救國聯合總會第18屆理事長童惠珍(中)頒發聘書，請波士頓
國民黨常委張韻蘭(右二)擔任該會駐波士頓主任，邀波士頓僑教中心
主任潘昭榮(右一)，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝(左二)，
全美台灣同鄉聯誼會候任會長張黃秀梅見證。(周菊子攝)

                 (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 華僑救國聯合總會第18屆理事長童惠珍夫婦， 4月6日到波士頓，在新月宮餐廳和僑胞餐敘、聯誼，頒發該會駐波士頓主任聘書給張韻蘭，報告上任後首要重任之一是推動「不在籍投票」。

                  童惠珍今年2月17日接任僑聯理事長，曾任中華民國第九屆立法委員，2017年隨同吳敦義，郝龍斌，2019年隨同韓國瑜到過波士頓。這次她在全美台灣同鄉聯誼會副會長暨候任會長張黃秀梅陪同中到訪波士頓。

童惠珍在聚會中回應僑胞提問。(周菊子攝)

                中生代的童惠珍請僑胞們分清楚，台灣有2個僑胞民間組織，一是70多年前 (1952年10月21日)成立的僑聯總會，一是80多年前 (1942年5月10日在重慶) 成立的華僑協會總會，早年都協助僑委會辦理僑務工作。 

             童惠珍說，該會宗旨有三，一是聯繫海外僑胞，二是堅持中華文化，三是強化文傳會。由於疫情一拖數年，疏於聯繫，她才在上任後展開拜訪之旅，先從美國16個辦事處中比較大的開始，依序拜訪了華府、紐約、在波士頓之後，計畫繼續到達拉斯、洛杉磯，舊金山、芝加哥、休士頓等地，希望將來有機會一一拜訪全世界共30餘個辦事處。

             童惠珍當天拿出僑聯總會第1476

鄭增壽 (後右起)、蔣碧如、楊思聖 (左一)等人在會中向童惠珍提建言。(周菊子攝)

期僑訊傳閱，說明該會活動比較靜態，每年都辦海外優秀青年選拔，華文著述獎徵選，書法、作文、繪畫等比賽，還鼓勵僑胞回台灣，欣賞美麗風景與人文環境，加強和台灣的感情。

             由於童惠珍同時也是國民黨組發會副主委，出席僑胞有人呼籲她參選黨主席，也有人紛紛質疑國民黨的文宣方式及管道，處理黃復興黨部做法，對課綱的關注及導正，以及對年輕人的吸引力不足等。童惠珍說明，國民黨已從4月1日起實施改革政策，正在全面檢討，並研擬對策，希望僑胞們不吝提供意見。

             駐波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝及翁宇才，阮鴻燦，陳余寶愛，張青梅等4

名職員，伍胥山公所美東總長伍輝民夫婦，藝聯慈善社社長湯偉雄，顧問鄭慧民夫婦，朱沛國堂主席朱健威夫婦，波士頓榮光會理事長鄭增壽夫婦，大陳同鄉會會長梁娜玲等許多僑團首長當晚都應邀出席了張韻蘭的獲頒波士頓僑聯主任聘書儀式及餐會。 (僑務電子報: 

 https://ocacnews.net/article/366505?cid=2)

張韻蘭 (右一)協助說明。(周菊子攝)

出席僑胞坐滿了新月宮。(周菊子攝)

吳孟啟(後左)，周仙梅(中)等人在座中聆聽。(周菊子攝)

張明燦夫婦。(周菊子攝)

大陳同鄉會會長梁娜玲。(周菊子攝)

鄭增壽(後左)、鄺坤珍(後右)與出席眾人在現場高歌。 (周菊子攝)

朱健威 (左起)，陳余寶愛、伍鍾美貞，伍輝民，鄭慧民等人都應邀出席。

Racial Justice Advocates Argue Appeals Court Should Affirm Lower Court’s Decision to Stop Use of County Line on New Jersey’s Primary Ballots in June Primary

 Racial Justice Advocates Argue Appeals Court Should Affirm Lower Court’s Decision to Stop Use of County Line on New Jersey’s Primary Ballots in June Primary

NEWARK – In an amicus curiae brief filed today, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and Campaign Legal Center – on behalf of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, Salvation and Social Justice, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, New Jersey Policy Perspective, AAPI New Jersey, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC (collectively, “Amici”) – asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to affirm the district court’s ruling in the case of Kim v. Hanlon.

The brief argues that that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it found “likelihood of success on the merits” for plaintiffs’ claim that the county line is unconstitutional and has a harmful effect on voters and candidates, and that ballots must be designed in office block style for the upcoming Democratic June primary election.

Amici’s brief points out that the decision of all of New Jersey’s county clerks in the case to drop out of the appeal demonstrates their ability to switch to office block ballots in time for June’s primary election.

However, the brief argues, if the Court of Appeals were to, at this late stage, grant the request of intervening parties to reverse that already-in-motion process, chaos would indeed ensue – an outcome defendants ostensibly wanted to avoid.

紐約中領館2024領事服務進社區 在黃氏公所、華人前進會為300多人辦證

中領館僑領處主任潘焱(前中)和領事陳曲鋒(前右一) 在
梁添光(前右六)、黃國威(前左六)等僑胞協助下，假黃氏宗親會會所，
提供辦證服務。(黃國威提供)

                  (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 中國駐紐約總領事館的「2024領事服務進社區」系列活動，4月6、7兩日來到波士頓，依序在黃氏宗親會會所和華人前進會會址，共為三、四百位民眾提供了辦理證件的便民服務。       

華人前進會的這場辦證服務，由華人前進會社區組織員鄺寶蓮
(左後)，華人前進會主席湯建華(右三)，以及余佩瑛(左一)等人協助。
(周菊子攝)

                         在黃氏宗親會的這場辦證服務，由黃氏宗親會、中美文化交流協會，以及梁忠孝堂合辦，黃氏元老黃國威，黃氏主席黃偉健，梁忠孝堂主席梁添光等人都專程到場，協助處理一應細節。中領館領僑處主任潘焱和領事陳曲鋒等3人，在波士頓僑胞的協助下，順利為200多名僑胞辦理了兒童旅遊證件，老人健在證等證件。

                 在華人前進會的這場，主要辦理健在證，為養老金資格提出證明。華人前進會社區組織員鄺寶蓮表示，為協助民眾填寫文件，準備桌椅，扶助年長及行動不便者排隊等候，他們出動了30多名義工到現場服務。

                其中一名義工很高興的說，團結就是力量，他們聽到很多僑胞反饋的說，現場工作人員有條不紊，行動不便的長者也得到很好照顧，很感謝義工及華人前進會對他們的照顧

                    中領館派員來麻州為民眾辦理證件的便民服務，已行之多年。2006年時還在美國華人聯合總會協助下，首次進入昆士市。根據中領館資訊，2023年時，「領事服務進社區」創下歷年紀錄，共舉行23場，辦了2000多份證件，回答上萬次諮詢。 (更新版)

民眾在波士頓黃氏宗親會會所內辦證。(黃國威提供)

辦證民眾在黃氏宗親會門外排隊等候。 (黃國威提供)

華人前進會的會議廳內擠滿了辦健在證的民眾。 (周菊子攝)

服務義工在華人前進會門口告訴民眾須準備哪些文件。 (周菊子攝)

華人前進會這場辦證服務，主要是辦證明領養老金資格的健在證。
(周菊子攝)

華人前進會闢室協助民眾填寫表格。(周菊子攝)

CITY OF BOSTON INVESTS IN ENHANCED EMERGENCY AND COASTAL RESILIENCE PLANNING WITH FLOODMAPP

CITY OF BOSTON INVESTS IN ENHANCED EMERGENCY AND COASTAL RESILIENCE PLANNING WITH FLOODMAPP

BOSTON - Monday, April 8, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that the City of Boston has awarded the City of Boston Flood Modeling RFP to FloodMapp to provide real-time flood monitoring to enhance emergency preparation, response, and recovery during flood events, marking a significant step forward in the city's resilience, an important part of the Mayor’s Green New Deal.  “Making Boston a Green New Deal city involves having the best means of preparing for, handling, and mitigating the long-lasting effects of climate change, including flooding,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Climate resilience begins with a sense of urgency for how these issues impact our communities today, while creating and adjusting both short-term and long-term plans to deal with them.”  This collaboration underscores Boston's proactive approach in confronting the escalating challenges caused by climate change, particularly intensifying flooding and sea-level rise. As a low-lying coastal city, vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, Boston is experiencing more intense storms, frequent heavy precipitation, extreme flooding, and higher sea levels. This can pose hazards to the community, its residents, and emergency managers, causing impacts to infrastructure, property damage, and more. “We are looking forward to taking this critical step towards enhancing the City’s ability to be more informed about flooding across Boston,” said Chief Shumeane Benford from Boston’s Office of Emergency Management. “This tool will support the interagency coordination within the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), improve operational preparedness, response, and recovery actions of individual City departments, focus and strengthen our City’s resilience planning, and enhance public risk communication before, during, and after a storm!” FloodMapp will work alongside the City of Boston in its ongoing efforts toward resilience and mitigation of the effects of climate change. The contract supplies the City of Boston’s Office of Emergency Management with FloodMapp’s ForeCast, NowCast, and PostCast products. With FloodMapp, the City of Boston aims to improve the City’s operational response to flood hazards. This new level of insight supports targeted evacuation planning and risk mitigation, helping to protect lives and property. ForeCast shows the predicted extent and depth of a flood on a map which can support emergency managers with targeted alerts and evacuations, proactive road closures, deployment of flood barriers and resources, and more. NowCast is a dynamic, live mapping feed that shows the current extent and depth of a flood in real-time, providing up-to-date situational awareness of the flood impact on people, property, and critical infrastructure. This supports emergency response activities such as search and rescue and eliminates the need to deploy personnel to dangerous environments to confirm the flood extent. PostCast is a map of the maximum flood extent after the water has begun to recede, which supports targeted distribution of disaster relief resources and supports rapid damage assessment, ultimately fast-tracking the recovery process. “We are honored to partner with the City of Boston and work collaboratively to build resilience. We’re truly inspired by the city’s innovative leadership, and our team is excited to integrate FloodMapp ForeCast,  NowCast, and PostCast into the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to improve the city’s operational preparedness, response, and recovery,” said CEO and Co-Founder of FloodMapp Juliette Murphy. “Working together with cities like Boston to build a safer future is rewarding in a way that I can’t put into words.”  As the City of Boston continues to focus on the impacts of these stronger and more frequent weather patterns on its residents, the partnership enhances the City’s commitment to safety and resilience. In addition to taking near-term action to adapt to a changing climate, the City’s Climate Ready Boston program is a roadmap for planning for the short-and-long term impacts of a warming planet in Boston. The City of Boston has completed coastal resilience solutions, planning for all 47-miles of Boston’s coastline and announced a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess coastal storm management, and determine eligibility for federal funding. With an unprecedented allocation of capital funding for coastal resilience initiatives, Boston is poised to lead by example in confronting the growing challenges of climate change. Through proactive partnerships, innovative solutions, and strategic investments, Boston is forging a path towards a safer, more resilient future for all its residents.

Governor Healey Celebrates National Robotics Week in North Andover and Boston

Governor Healey Celebrates National Robotics Week in North Andover and Boston 

Mass Leads Act proposes $25 million for new program to expand MA’s leadership in robotics 

CHARLESTOWN – Today, to kick off National Robotics Week, Governor Maura T. Healey continued her Mass Leads Road Show with visits to North Andover High School and MassRobotics.  

In North Andover, the Governor met with the high school robotics club and congratulated them ahead of the Vex Robotics World Championships, which they will compete in later this month. She saw their robotics projects and presented a proclamation for National Robotics Week. 

MassRobotics is the largest independent robotics hub dedicated to accelerating innovation and adoption in the field of robotics. They recently kicked off Mass Robotics Accelerator, powered by Mass Tech Collaborative, to support the robotics entrepreneurs through an intensive 13-week program. During the visit, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll toured a lab space and met some of the startups housed at the facility. They also saw a classroom that is used for STEM Education. 

The visits were part of the Governor’s Mass Leads Act Road Show during which she is traveling to communities across Massachusetts to highlight the ways in which her recently proposed economic development bill will grow the state’s economy, support businesses and attract talent. The bill proposes $25 million for a new Robotics Investment Program that will advance the state’s leadership in the robotics sector through research, commercialization, and training. 

“Massachusetts is proud to be home to one of the lead robotics hubs in the world, and it’s essential that we continue to lengthen this lead through targeted investments like the Mass Leads Act,” said Governor Healey. “It was great to see the innovative work being done in robotics from high school students in North Andover to cutting-edge startups at MassRobotics.” 

“There’s a reason why 1 in 4 robotics patents are earned by Massachusetts inventors – it’s because we prioritize giving this industry the tools it needs to thrive,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “Our administration is excited to continue supporting robotics entrepreneurs, as well as expanding opportunities for students to participate in STEM education and see themselves in a future career like robotics.” 

Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) launched a new $5 million initiative to boost the robotics sector across the state. The new department, established within the Innovation Institute at MassTech, is focused on supporting robotics research and development (R&D), testing, commercialization, and workforce development. 

“The investments proposed in the Mass Leads Act will help Massachusetts secure our leadership in the robotics sector,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “The proposed robotics capital program at MassTech and reauthorization of the R&D Fund will drive innovation by funding research, commercialization, and training across the state.” 

“MassTech’s mission is to create opportunities for growth in the Massachusetts innovation economy, and that definitely includes robotics,” said Carolyn Kirk, CEO of MassTech. “Our Innovation Institute implements a unique model for the state that spurs economic growth -- together with industry leaders, academic researchers, and policymakers. MassTech is proud to help drive the competitiveness of tech and innovation through strategic investments and partnerships.” 

"We are excited to be joined by the Governor, LG, and staff members to celebrate National Robotics Week.  Robotics is an important industry in the state, employing over 5,000 people and shipping 1,000s of robots every month,” said MassRobotics Executive Director Tom Ryden. “Massachusetts is truly the Hub of robotics and recognized as a world leader. With thee continued support in the Mass Leads Act this exciting industry will continue to grow in size and impact throughout the state."   

MAYOR WU AND OFFICE OF LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS ADVANCE LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS PLANS ACROSS 19 DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE RESIDENTS ACCESS AND EXPERIENCES WITH CITY SERVICES

MAYOR WU AND OFFICE OF LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS ADVANCE LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS PLANS ACROSS 19 DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE RESIDENTS ACCESS AND EXPERIENCES WITH CITY SERVICES Plans aimed at improving City departments efforts to ensure that residents can better access and engage with City programming, services and information

BOSTON - Monday, April 8, 2024 - Mayor Wu and the Office of Language and Communications Access (OLCA) published Language and Communications Access Plans for 19 City departments. These plans are the culmination of 12 months of collaboration between OLCA staff and departments to intentionally ensure department services, activities and information are accessible to people who identify as speaking a Language other than English or people with a communications related disability. “Ensuring our city departments provide accessible, intentional language and communications access services to residents and families is critical in making Boston a city for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “These critical departmental plans are a huge step in building a City that is truly welcoming of all, and I’m thrilled to see how these critical changes for language and communications access serve Bostonians.”   "The language we speak should never be a barrier to accessing services or participating in civic life,” said Chief of Equity & Inclusion Mariangely Solis Cervera. “These plans reflect our dedication to breaking down those barriers, creating a city where every voice is heard and every need is met.”  Last year, Mayor Wu announced the first phase of a City-wide implementation of Boston’s Language and Communication Access policy. Implementation efforts involve creating public language and communications access plans, identifying and translating vital documents and information, identifying critical programming and events and training all department staff on providing language and communications access services.  The first phase of the implementation process will focus on a set of departments, categorized as tier I departments, with critical involvement in constituent’s well-being, safety, and access to critical information. Tier 1 departments participating in this first phase include: Boston Police Department, Boston Fire Department, Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, Office of Emergency Management, Office of Housing, Office of Food Justice, Elections Department, Office of Neighborhood Services, Office of Civic Organizing, BOS:311, Treasury- Collecting Division,  Mayor’s Office of Communications and the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet includes : Office of Black Male Advancement, Office of Immigrant Advancement, Office of Women’s Advancement, Disabilities Commission, Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement, Office of Language and Communications Access, Fair Housing and Equity.  Through coordination with various departments, this work has resulted in improved service delivery across various departments leading to positive resident experiences.  Improvements include but are not limited to: The City’s Emergency Text Alerts communicated in 11 languages, Boston Police Headquarters and District Offices providing interpretation over the phone or a web-cam enabled device when supporting constituents, voting locations staffed with bilingual staff and professional interpreters. Residents have the right to file a complaint through the Office of Language and Communications Access if you feel that you have been subject to discrimination.  The City does not retaliate because an individual has filed a complaint alleging discrimination based on LOTE status or disability. Visit boston.gov/lca for more information on how to file a complaint online, over the phone, via email or in person.  “As an English Learner and immigrant to the US, I know first hand the grave impacts that language barriers can have on individuals’ and families' health and well-being. Language can be a beautiful tool that brings people together, creates trust and fosters collaboration,” said Jeniffer Vivar Wong, Director of Language and Communication Access. “That is why it is our office’s priority to ensure every department is providing intentional language and communications access services to all constituents. We know how vital it is to make systemic changes throughout the City to ensure all Bostonians feel welcomed, heard and seen at the City of Boston. This work could not be possible without the hard work and commitment from the LCA team and department partners.” Building on Mayor Wu’s vision of creating a City where every resident feels at home, the Mayor’s Office of Language and Communication Access (OLCA) strives to empower speakers of all languages and communication abilities to receive the full spectrum of services offered by the City of Boston. Learn more about OLCA at boston.gov/lca. Translations of this press release are available in the following languages below and here on boston.gov

川普發視頻讓各州自決婦女墮胎權 麻州 Healey 州長呼籲:別被他騙了

            (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 美國前總統川普 (Donald Trump) 在4月8日 (週一)公佈的一段視頻中，拒絕贊同全國性的禁止墮胎。麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 立即發表聲明，呼籲眾人別被川普的謊言欺騙。

            自從美國最高法院在2022年6月24日，就Dobbs V. Jackson婦女的健康組織一案做出裁決，顛覆了1973年的Roe V. Wade案決定後，全美各地近年都在熱意墮胎議題，今年11月即將來臨的美國總統大選，再把這話題推上高峰。

            共和黨控制的州，陸續實施新的墮胎限制，其中有14州在懷孕的每一階段，都禁止使用墮胎藥。大多數由民主黨控制的州，則有法令或行政命令來保護人們取得墮胎藥途徑。

            川普在他個人的「真相社會 (Truth Social)」網站上貼文表示，很多人都問他在墮胎問題及墮胎權上的立場，他現在的看法是，應該由每個州的州民自己投票，或以立法來決定。

            他在視頻中還把最高法院推翻Roe V. Wade案決定的功勞，攬到自己頭上，說他”為個人終止這 (憲法賦予的墮胎權)負責感到驕傲”。

            麻州州長奚莉在發表的聲明中說，"川普今天又說他很驕傲地為推翻Roe J. Wade一案，剝奪數以百萬計婦女的權利，並引發公共安全緊急事故負責” 。別讓川普用謊言擺脫真相，他這天的立場是他支持可怕的全美禁止墮胎，而且不讓婦女獲得基本醫療護理及自由。

            奚莉說，麻州仍然能看到川普行動的影響。現在更多婦女從其他州來到麻州，獲取生育護理，給供應商帶來壓力，也威脅到他們的獲取基本醫療護理。

            麻州是生育自由的火炬。她會每天盡力確保墮胎仍然是安全及合法的。不過有件事很清楚，那就是川普對全美，麻州婦女的權益及醫療健康是個威脅。

Governor Healey Issues Statement in Response to Donald Trump’s Announcement on Abortion  

BOSTON – Governor Maura T. Healey issued the following statement today in response to Donald Trump’s position that abortion laws should be left to the states. 

“When someone tells you who he is, believe him. Donald Trump again said today that he’s ‘proudly’ responsible for overturning Roe v Wade, stripping the rights away from millions of women and unleashing a public health emergency. Don’t let Donald Trump lie his way out of this – with today’s position he is supporting horrific abortion bans across the country that deny women access to basic health care and freedom.  

In Massachusetts, we are still seeing the impact of Donald Trump’s actions. More women than ever are coming to our state for reproductive care, straining providers and threatening access to essential health care.  

Massachusetts is a beacon of reproductive freedom, and I will work every day to make sure abortion remains safe and legal. But one thing is clear – Donald Trump is a threat to the rights and health care of women in Massachusetts and across the country.” 

波克萊台灣商會年輕世代接棒 陳奕如出任會長

波克萊台灣商會與嘉賓在會長交接儀式後留影。(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏 (中) 主持會長交接儀式。左為新會長陳奕如，
右為卸任會長李孟潔。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波克萊台灣商會 (BTCC) 4月6日中午，在尼登鎮 (Needham) 御園餐廳舉行新舊任會長交接典禮。年輕世代，甫30出頭的市場行銷專才陳奕如接掌會長，在駐波士頓台北經文處處長廖朝宏代表僑委會頒給賀狀的隆重中，走馬上任。

波克萊臺灣商會創會會長游勝雄(左二)特地送出一本世界台灣商會年刊，
讓新世代會長知道，該會在世界台灣商會實力強大。(周菊子攝)

              波克萊臺灣商會是從餐館業發家，其後轉往商業地產界發展，並卓然有成的游勝雄，於2002年和志同道合的郭競儒，李淑玲，蘇鴻昌，陳玉瑛，羅靜春，楊羅東，劉秀春，徐小玲，王豫玲等人創立的組織。這天他在會中特地簡述該會創辦歷史，並鄭重說明該會現有十幾人是世界台灣商會理事，實力雄厚。

              卸任會長，牙醫師李孟潔在致詞時先感謝各僑團會長出席交接儀式，繼而說明，他的加入商會，源於他的高雄醫學院學長，藥學系蘇鴻昌引介。過去兩年來，由於他個人除了吃以外，不太關心其他事，所以辦的活動都和美食有關。他在特地感謝陳玉瑛和郭競儒幫忙安排交接儀式的場地之餘，打趣說他參加商會的另一目的，是增長見聞，保持和人溝通的能力。

游勝雄這天特地把波克萊台灣商會在2002年創辦時的年刊，
帶到會場，以彰顯該會歷史。(周菊子攝)

              新任會長陳奕如，過去四年半來一直是波士頓台灣龍舟隊的核心幹部之一，負責對外公關，和波士頓許多僑團前輩已經認識。她感謝各僑團及前輩們一直以來的加油，鼓勵。她說波克萊台灣商會歷史豐富，她為出任會長，接手傳承，感到非常榮幸。未來2年，她計畫舉辦鼓勵創業，商機分享，交流營運經驗的座談，以及其他軟性的線下活動，促進業界交流、對話。

              陳奕如在致詞時還匯報，上一屆的財務長羅靜春交棒，卸任會長李孟潔將接管財務，另外有韓璦璘、葉南谷依序在公關組及數位營運組留任。其他幹部正在繼續招募中。

波士頓僑務委員郭競儒致詞。(周菊子攝)

              波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏稱許波克萊臺灣商會過去以來長期支持辦事處，僑教中心。他還特地感謝波士頓僑務委員郭競儒，上個月和北美洲台灣商會到華府參加「叩門之旅」，拜會參眾議員，為促進台美關係出力。他期許僑團不只為僑胞服務，更要做為橋樑，搭起台灣和主流社會的連接管道。

波克萊臺灣商會前會長陳玉瑛為會長交接典禮擔任司儀。(周菊子攝)

                       波克萊臺灣商會今年的會長交接典禮，嘉賓多過出席的商會理事。應邀到會的僑團，包括新英格蘭玉山科技協會，紐英崙中華專業人員協會，波士頓台灣人生物科技協會，新英格蘭大波士噸台灣商會，波士頓台灣影展協會等，會長幾乎都是年輕人，和波克萊台灣商會輝映，彰顯出波士頓僑團的傳承正在發生中。 (僑務電子報: https://ocacnews.net/article/366334?cid=2) 

地震? 新澤西地震麻州有感

               (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 地震，麻州? 不是4月3日台灣才發生七級大地震嗎? 真的，4月5日這天早上，從紐約、康州、賓州、馬里蘭州到麻州、新罕布夏州，長200英里的地方，都感受到了下午6點以後，在新澤西州Gladstone發生的4級地震餘震。

              根據美國地質調查局的說法，這4.8級的地震，主要發生在新澤西州北部，但是整個美國東北部，甚至更遠的地方，都感覺到了地震。連緬因州，加拿大。都有感到震動的報導。

              波士頓的國家氣象局很快就收到幾宗來自新英格蘭南部的報告。麻州緊急管理局人員也收到好幾宗來自全州各地的震動報告。他們說，這種級別的地震，在新英格蘭地區很罕見，這次的地震，大概會在很多人心中留下很長的記憶。

              波士頓學院的Weston天文台為此表示，希望新英格蘭地區有個地震警報系統。

              麻州羅爾市，波士頓的牙買加平原，都有人感覺到了震動、搖晃。安多福鎮上的華人微信群，也有人在互相探問，”是不是這兒都有地震了”?

              麻州緊急管理局 (MEMA) 表示，正在收集損害報告。

              波士頓一帶，並無出現大型損害的報告。專家說，那是因為1975年後，波士頓就更新了樓宇規格要求，以其樓宇更加耐震。從那以後，這耐震規格還更新了好幾次。

              有人笑說，麻州才剛經歷了一場東北風暴 (nor'easter)，下星期還會出現日蝕，誰的賓果卡上有地震”?

              美國地質調查局後來報告，4月5日星期五那天，東部時間大約下午6點以後，在新澤西州的Gladstone附近，記錄到4級的餘震。不過並未提到東北其他地區有沒感覺到地震。

              白宮表示，美國總統拜登 (Joe Biden)聽取了週五早上的地震報告，聯邦政府正在觀察任何可能的衝擊。

              美國東北部的這地震，和最近在台灣發生，造成傷亡的地震相比，威力小得多。

台灣地震視頻

 (From Taiwan Plus)