麻州州長 Healey 將巡迴八地宣傳州政府房屋政策

Healey-Driscoll Administration to Launch Statewide Campaign in Support of Governor Healey’s Housing Agenda 

Cross-cabinet events will highlight housing’s impact on residents, communities, businesses, transportation, health and the economy  

BOSTON – Next week, the Healey-Driscoll administration will launch a statewide campaign calling attention to the urgent need to act to lower housing costs across Massachusetts and highlighting housing’s impact on everyday life. Each event hosted by the administration over the next few weeks will highlight a different way in which housing impacts residents’ lives and the need for action to make housing more affordable for everyone. Governor Maura T. Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and cabinet secretaries will also advocate for the administration’s strategies to increase housing production and lower costs, including the Affordable Homes Act and the MBTA Communities Law. 

“Everywhere we go in Massachusetts, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and I hear that the high cost of housing is the number one challenge facing our residents, communities, workers and businesses,” said Governor Healey. “That’s why we’ve gone big on our housing agenda to lower costs for everyone – from proposing the largest housing investment in state history with the Affordable Homes Act, to partnering with communities to help them rezone for multifamily housing as part of the MBTA Communities Act, to passing significant incentives for housing development and relief for renters and senior homeowners in our tax cuts package. Over the next few weeks, our team is going to be visiting communities across the state to highlight the ways in which housing impacts every aspect of our residents’ quality of life and our economy and call for urgent action to make housing more affordable for all.” 

On Monday, May 6, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll will kick off the week in Lynn with mayors and municipal managers from across the state to highlight the ways in which increasing housing production will help municipalities meet the needs of their residents. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor will also applaud the communities that have complied or are on the path to complying with the MBTA Communities Law. On Wednesday, May 8, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor

Driscoll will join business leaders in Worcester for a roundtable discussion about how building more housing and lowering costs is essential for our economic growth, competitiveness and innovation. 

On Thursday, May 9, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll will join hospital executives and health care leaders for a roundtable discussion on the ways in which housing is a social determinant of health and critical to supporting Massachusetts’ world class health care workforce. The event will be held at Boston Medical Center, which is a national leader on innovative approaches to housing as medicine and has invested millions of dollars into affordable housing. 

On Friday May 10, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and Secretary Augustus will visit a local housing authority development to highlight the importance of revitalizing and preserving public housing, which provides stable and affordable homes for residents with low incomes, including seniors and people with disabilities. The Affordable Homes Act proposes $1.6 billion for the repair, rehabilitation and modernization of the state’s more than 43,000 public housing units. 

On Thursday, May 16, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and Secretary Augustus will visit a community development organization in Chesterfield to highlight the important role that partnership with neighborhood organizations plays in addressing our housing challenges. 

On Friday, May 17, Secretary Augustus and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng will visit Attleboro to highlight the importance of transit-oriented housing, which can increase housing affordability, reduce commuting costs, expand accessibility, and foster sustainable development. The MBTA recently executed an MOU with Attleboro for a transit-oriented development (TOD) project with up to 600 housing units. The MBTA also recently announced that service will be partially restored to the nearby South Attleboro train station on May 20. 

On Monday, May 20, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and Secretary Augustus will visit Gloucester to highlight the importance of ensuring that affordable housing projects have supportive services for residents. They will also discuss the importance of senior housing, which provides tailored accommodations and support services for older adults, fostering independence, social connections, and access to health care, while addressing the unique needs and preferences of aging populations for a fulfilling retirement experience. Accordingly, the Affordable Homes Act authorizes $200 million for the Housing Innovation Fund, which supports innovative rental housing, including for seniors. It also establishes a commission to research and recommend policy changes to expand supportive housing for seniors.  

On Monday afternoon, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and Secretary Augustus will visit Haverhill to highlight the ways in which the state supports first-time homebuyers through the CommonWealth Builder and MassDREAMS programs. The Affordable Homes Act proposes $100 million for CommonWealth Builder to spur construction of affordable homeownership opportunities and up to $50 million for MassDreams to create first-time homebuyer opportunities for households in Disproportionately Impacted Communities. 

臺灣傳統週2024美東巡演 十鼓擊樂團 5/4 牛頓臺灣日

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(前右一)和波士頓僑務委員郭競儒(前右四)在
御園餐廳為十鼓擊樂團洗塵。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 僑委會主辦，以「臺灣印象」為主題的「2024年美國臺灣傳統週暨加拿大亞裔傳統月」文化訪問團(美加東團)，由曾入圍葛萊美獎的「十鼓擊樂團」擔綱，第一站來到波士頓，將於5月4日在麻州的牛頓臺灣日中演出。

潘昭榮主任(左一)和2名波士頓僑務委員郭競儒(左二) 、陳仕維(前右三)夫婦，
以及牛頓臺灣日籌備委員陳玉瑛(前右一)歡迎謝懷玨(前左三)
善領的十鼓擊院團到訪波士頓。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓僑務委員郭競儒和波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，5月2日親自到羅根機場接機，也是波士頓僑務委員的陳仕維特地派出一輛大卡車去載運團員和大鼓等各式樂器。晚上再假Dedham御園餐廳為十鼓擊樂團洗塵。

十鼓擊樂團是個在臺灣開闢、經營有2個文化園區的本土打擊樂團，宗旨為「傳創台灣本土文化，發揚鼓樂藝術薪傳」，由謝十於2000年在台南創辦以來，曾入圍臺灣金曲獎，第52屆葛萊美獎，也受邀到過英法美澳，馬泰韓印，南非，杜拜，約旦，土耳其，捷克等世界各國表演。

謝懷玨(中)和郭競儒(左)互贈紀念品。(周菊子攝)

年僅26歲的十鼓擊樂團藝術總監謝懷玨指出，該團特色不僅在於鼓具有專人設計、用獸皮製作，連演出曲目都自己創作，講究在地文化意涵，歷史人文風貌，視覺效果，甚至揉合武術功夫、笛子吹奏及舞蹈等元素，希望鼓術能普及全民，激發腦力，並凝聚，串連起人們對台灣這片土地的感情，也讓外國友人看到臺灣是個多棒的島嶼。

牛頓臺灣日籌備委員會特地請十鼓擊樂團團員們吃龍蝦。
(周菊子攝)

牛頓臺灣日籌備委員會主任委員暨波士頓僑務委員郭競儒為了歡迎十鼓擊樂團，特地為團員們準備了每人一整隻2磅重龍蝦，配上周打魚湯，貽貝的大餐，還送給每人一頂紅襪隊球帽做紀念品。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮非常高興的指出，這是他到任三年以來，第一次有國內派來巡迴表演團參加牛頓臺灣日，將使當天表演更精彩，希望能感動僑胞，讓主流社會人士藉此更認識臺灣的藝術與文化。

十鼓擊樂團團員們大快朵頤前先拍照。(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑務委員陳仕維坦言自己從未學過打鼓，但已聽聞「十鼓」名聲，雖然自己當天需赴外地開會，仍十分期待「十鼓」在牛頓臺灣日中震撼演出。

                        「十鼓擊樂團」的臺灣傳統週巡演，將拜訪美加東個城市，共演出13場，依序為麻州牛頓市 (5月4日)，佛羅里達州奧蘭多(5月7日)，加拿大魁北克省蒙特婁(5月10日)，喬治亞州肯尼索 (5月12日)，北卡洛麗市(Ralegih，5月15日)，馬里蘭州洛克維爾市(Rockville, 5月18日)，賓州匹茲堡市(Pittsburgh, 5月22日)，新澤西州北澤西(5月25日)，紐約州紐約市(5月26日)，紐約州阿爾巴尼市(Albany, 5月29日)，伊利諾州芝加哥市(6月1日)，印地安納州印城(Carmel, 6月3日)，明尼蘇達州雙子城 (Minnetonka, 6月7日)。

Resilience in Response to Anti-Asian Harassment Training To Be Offered in Thirteen Asian Languages

Resilience in Response to Anti-Asian Harassment Training To Be Offered in Thirteen Asian Languages

Advancing Justice - AAJC and Right To Be Work With Community-Based Organizations To Bring Training Directly To Impacted Communities

WASHINGTON D.C. – As we enter into Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC and Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!) have announced a new initiative to equip twelve community-based organizations across the country to bring their “How to Respond to Anti-Asian Harassment and Practice Resilience When Experiencing Anti-Asian Harassment” training directly to impacted communities. Trainings will be delivered in-person and in thirteen Asian languages in addition to English, including Cantonese, Dari, Hindi, Hmong, Karen, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Nepali, Pashto, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

Since launching joint trainings in the spring of 2020 on how to safely respond to anti-Asian hate and harassment, Advancing Justice – AAJC and Right To Be have reached over 100,000 people through free online training sessions on bystander intervention, conflict de-escalation, and how to respond when experiencing anti-Asian harassment.

“We felt it was important to move beyond the online format and offer training in-person and in Asian languages,” said Marita Etcubañez, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Advancing Justice – AAJC. “By equipping community-based organizations to deliver the training in different Asian languages, we aim to bring this training to audiences we have not yet reached, including members of our community who may not have found the online format easily accessible.  We also hope that offering training in-person will create opportunities for dialogue about the harassment that Asian Americans continue to face and the solutions that the community feels are needed.”

The new initiative was born out of a desire from local organizations to build resilience in their communities in response to the surge in anti-Asian hate in recent years. Partner organizations will be adapting the core training to reflect the specific needs of the communities they serve. 

“As Asian Americans continue to experience anti-Asian hate and harassment, we wanted to find more ways to directly support the community, especially our elders here in Houston, to learn about how to address harassment, both in the moment and how to begin healing afterwards,” said Jannette Diep, Executive Director of Boat People SOS Houston. “We are so pleased that our staff are now able to provide anti-harassment training and are excited to host in-person trainings in Vietnamese, and in partnership with OCA Houston, in Chinese.” 

“AJSOCAL is thrilled to bring this updated How to Respond curriculum in-person to Asian and Asian American communities in southern California,” said Christina Yang, General Counsel and Pro Bono Director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California.  “We have been providing the bystander intervention training since 2021, but that training focuses more on allies of the community, so it’s exciting to now also offer the How to Respond training, which more directly addresses how folks of Asian descent can take care of themselves if they experience harassment.”

Under this new initiative, partner organizations anticipate hosting a combined one hundred training sessions in 2024.

"I am both grateful and inspired by our collaboration with Advancing Justice – AAJC to make our anti-harassment training more accessible and relevant to Asian communities across the nation,” said Jorge Arteaga, Vice President of Movement Building at Right To Be. “By delivering these crucial trainings in-person and in thirteen different Asian languages, we are not just educating people on how to respond to anti-Asian harassment; we are empowering them to reclaim their right to be respected and safe in their communities. Our hope for this next phase of our work is to deepen our impact and reach even more folks who can benefit from these resources, fostering resilience and action against hate and harassment in every form."

波士頓市彌平差距小額補助款 20萬元 徵非牟利機構提出服務退伍軍人計畫

               (Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市推出「彌平差距迷你補助計畫 (Bridge the Gap Mini-Grant Program) ，將以20萬元總額資助非牟利機構服務退伍軍人，每項計畫最高可申請9999元，申請截止日期為5月24日。

              非牟利機構協助退伍軍人的項目可包括居住，交通，醫療及身心健康，改善經濟的移動性，法律服務，教育性項目等。

              波士頓市長吳弭( Michelle Wu)表示，波士頓市正藉由和地方組織建立關係，來為退伍軍人提供重要的服務。

              波士頓市退伍軍人服務局局長Robert Santiago表示，「彌平差距」補助旨在退伍軍人及其家庭提供需要但還未得到的服務。

              波士頓市政府列出的申請條件為，補助款收受者須為一家非牟利的免稅組織 (501 (C) (3))，或者有個正式的財務贊助者；致力支持波士頓市內退伍軍人社區的生活品質；理解多元退伍軍人社區所面對的需求；財務狀況良好，遵循申請法規，能夠提供評估款項分發效益的數據；必須具有成功辦理項目支持退伍軍人社區的能力

              波士頓市政府預定6月底公佈申請結果。查詢更多詳情，可上政府退伍軍人服務辦公室網頁https://www.boston.gov/departments/veterans-services。

MAYOR WU & OFFICE OF VETERANS’ SERVICES ANNOUNCE MINI-GRANT PROGRAM

BOSTON - Thursday, May 2, 2024 - Today Mayor Michelle Wu and the City’s Office of Veterans’ Services announced the launch of the new Bridge the Gap Mini-Grant Program, designed to support veterans, service members, and their families. The mini-grants will be awarded to organizations that support the veteran community of Boston and “bridge the gap” that may exist for veterans after accessing other benefits. Funds will be used to support Boston nonprofits that help veterans with key issue areas, including: housing, transportation, health and wellness, upward economic mobility, legal services, and educational programming. A total of $200,000 is available across the grant program, with individual applicants able to apply for up to $9,999 in funding. Applicants can apply here. “In Boston we’re working to expand our reach to our veterans by building relationships with local organizations providing crucial services,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This new grant program will channel funds back into our nonprofits to give our veterans access to the benefits they deserve.” “The Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Services is committed to pioneering innovative solutions that bolster the well-being of veterans, service members, and their families, and foster environments where they can thrive. In line with this mission, I am proud to announce the Bridge the Gap Mini-Grant Program, an initiative designed to provide vital support to organizations that are dedicated to serving the veteran and military community of Boston,” said Veterans’ Services Commissioner Robert Santiago. “The Bridge the Gap Mini-Grant Program aims to address the unmet needs of our veterans and their families, bridging the gap that may exist even after accessing other benefits.” All applications and required documents are due by Friday, May 24, 2024. Grant recipients must:  Be a nonprofit 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization or have an official fiscal sponsor   Be committed to supporting the quality of life of the veteran community in the City of Boston Understand the needs facing the diverse veteran community Be in good financial standing, adhere to all applicable laws and regulations, and be able to provide data that allows for assessment of the impact of the distributed funds Must have capacity to successfully implement programming that supports the veteran community Award recipients will be announced by the end of June. More information on services and programming offered by the City’s Office of Veterans’ Services can be found here.

波士頓華埠商會和ISD面對面溝通

出席者合影。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華埠商會 (CBA) 為協助商戶和市府相關部門取得直接聯繫， 面對面互動，建立感情，日前借用華人經濟發展協會會址，邀得波士頓市檢驗服務局 (ISD) 和商戶晤談。

Daniel Prendergast (前中) 和Matthew Ruzanski(前右二)，和陳文珊(前右一)
譚達兒(前左二)、華商會會長陳仕維(第二排左一)等商家合影。(周菊子攝)

              波士頓華埠商會新屆會長陳仕維，副會長陳文珊、黃展唐，財政余麗媖等人和大約20名華埠餐飲食肆老闆這天匯聚，和波士頓市檢驗服務局衛生組 (Health Division) 助理局長 Daniel Prendergast，負責巡查華埠地區的衛生檢查專員Matthew Ruzanski當面對談，拿了名片，以備不時之需。

              Daniel Prendergast說明，該局也有輪調制，每隔二、三年，衛生檢查專員們就要換區出任務。Matthew Ruzanski也才調任華不僅約半年時間。

ISD衛生組 (Health Division) 助理局長 Daniel Prendergast，負責巡查華埠地區
的衛生檢查專員Matthew Ruzanski。(周菊子攝)

              Daniel Prendergast和Matthew Ruzanski在會中指出，油漬是餐飲業最常遭遇的問題。他們也最關注餐飲店的生食 (raw food) 處理，員工是否按規定洗手，地下室的清潔程度等。他們也說明該局的檢驗標籤有黃色、藍色兩種，黃色需要每3個月檢驗一次，藍色則為一般情況下一年一次。

              他們兩人強調ISD不是壞人，職責是保障衛生，避免人們因為用餐生病。

              當天在會中，餐飲食肆老闆們還和ISD討論了收垃圾，垃圾桶不夠，華埠地方狹窄，缺乏適當空間擺放等問題。Daniel Prendergast和Matthew Ruzanski解釋，垃圾部分是波士頓市公共工程局的業務。

              本身擁有恆業地產，為不少華埠商家管理物業的余麗媖，當天在會上代表商家提出許多個問題。

              這天到會的商戶包括明記鮮雞，肥牛火鍋，唐朝，翠苑，新金門，雅都，香滿園，溫莎餅家等。

麻州政府又爭取到5000萬元聯邦經費 用於除鉛服務

Healey-Driscoll Administration Receives $50 Million in Federal Funding to Remove Lead Service Lines Across Massachusetts 

BOSTON– Today, the Biden-Harris Administration awarded more than $50 million in funding for Massachusetts cities and towns to help identify and replace lead service lines and prevent exposure to lead in drinking water. Following advocacy by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, federal delegation, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, and Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, the federal funding announced today is an increase over the $33.7 million in lead service line funding allocated in fiscal year 2023 but presents a gap between the identified funding needs in Massachusetts. The Healey-Driscoll Administration will continue to work with federal, state, and local agencies in order to fully fund the lead service line replacement program.  

“We appreciate the Biden-Harris Administration's willingness to engage with states on important environmental and public health issues, particularly one with such widespread and acute impacts as lead in drinking water,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re looking forward to continued collaboration with federal partners to identify more funding avenues to build on these investments so Massachusetts can continue its nation-leading work to protect the environment and public health.”  

“As a former mayor, I know how challenging it can be to address these types of infrastructure challenges,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, cities and towns across Massachusetts will have significantly more resources to continue plugging away at the necessary upgrades to protect the health of its residents. Our Administration will continue to search for additional funding to complete the job.”  

In February, Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell, and Treasurer Goldberg submitted a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging him to reconsider the new grant formula that had reduced lead service line replacement funding to Massachusetts by more than $30 million. The letter identified Massachusetts’ unique needs for lead remediation funding based on the high percentage of housing stock from before 1940, when the use of lead in service lines was prevalent and emphasized how the effects of this today cause disproportionate lead exposure in communities of color. Massachusetts received $65.7 million in fiscal year 2022 but was only allocated $33.7 million for 2023 and future years of the program under the EPA’s new methodology. Following advocacy from Massachusetts and other states, the EPA allowed states a onetime opportunity to submit additional data, resulting in Massachusetts’ boosted allotment of $50 million.  

Massachusetts has leveraged federal Bipartisan Infrastructure money to address lead service line issues, including commitments since 2022 of more than $59 million for lead remediation projects. This funding has supported needs assessments and action plans in 121 Massachusetts communities and has financed $30 million in remediation projects.  

“The Biden-Harris Administration and EPA Administrator Regan have been leaders in making federal funding available to address harmful drinking water contaminants, particularly lead, which has no safe level,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As a state with some of the oldest infrastructure in the country, this funding is desperately needed, especially in our environmental justice communities. But we will continue seek ways to fully fund local lead line replacement efforts.”  

“Thank you to President Biden for your commitment to removing harmful contaminants from our drinking water, and to Administrator Regan for recognizing Massachusetts's demonstrated needs and effectiveness in using federal dollars to remediate lead contamination in our water infrastructure,” said Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey. “We will continue to work closely with our Massachusetts congressional delegation and federal partners to ensure the lead service line replacement program has the funding it requires to address these critical needs.”  

The funding awarded under President Biden’s $3 billion Investing in America initiative will provide significant grants through the Massachusetts Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Program. Under the Revised Lead and Copper Rule set to take effect in October, the EPA is also requiring local public water systems to investigate the number of lead service lines in their water distribution system and report those findings to the state agency that oversees drinking water – in Massachusetts that is the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).  

“Keeping drinking water safe is core to the mission at MassDEP,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “While we've been national leaders in lead remediation, there is more work to be done. Our team is ready to get these federal dollars into the hands of communities in need so that they can continue the work of keeping drinking water clean and safe for all.”  

More information on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Program can be found on MassDEP’s website. 

 “No matter where you live, everyone deserves clean drinking water,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “This $50 million in funds from the Biden-Harris administration is a much-needed investment to replace lead pipes and keep Massachusetts families safe. I’ll continue working in close partnership with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to secure additional federal resources we need.”  

“Our Commonwealth has a high lead service line burden due to the age of our housing stock, and we know lead exposure is an environmental justice issue, as it disproportionately affects Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “Massachusetts is receiving $50 million in federal investment thanks to President Biden and the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we passed in Congress, but we know much more is needed to identify and replace all remaining lead pipes across the Commonwealth to ensure public health safety. Together with the Healey-Driscoll administration, we will keep fighting to secure Massachusetts’ fair share from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund allocations.” 

 "I am grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for responding to our advocacy and providing these funds, which will support healthy and safe communities across the Commonwealth by allocating additional funding to replace the lead pipes that contaminate our drinking water with the urgency our residents deserve," said Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.  

“This is a critical investment from the Biden-Harris Administration. These resources will provide increased access to safe drinking water which is so necessary for positive health outcomes across our state,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. “We will continue to advocate for additional funding for this program, as it is an essential need for the basic well-being of every Massachusetts resident, particularly those who are most vulnerable.”  

MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth; to provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and to ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. 

哈佛台灣學生會聊台灣飲食文化、台北性別空間

哈佛大學和MIT學生會在「關於台灣我想聊」活動中合影。(哈佛台灣學生會提供)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 哈佛台灣學生會 (HTSA) 的「關於台灣我想聊」系列，4月28日談吃喝玩樂，在哈佛大學生物實驗大樓，從臺灣飲食文化，談到臺北性別空間。會末還有斜槓蔬食，Ten One Teahouse，波克萊臺灣商會等贊助臺灣美味，與會者大快朵頤。

哈佛大學台灣學生會會長黃郁婷(左)、姚俊辰(右)和活動總召林昕嬡(中)。
(周菊子攝)

             哈佛會長姚俊辰、黃郁婷和活動總召林昕嬡及學生會幹部邀得兼具慈善家、作家身分的國立中央大學中國文學系助理教授胡川安，刻在哈佛費正清中心做博士後研究的林祈佑，依序講談「吃喝 : 從飲食文化看臺灣的身世」，以及「玩樂 : 跟著 妮妃雅瘋 走過台北的性別空間」。活動有MIT學生會(MIT ROCSA)支持，線上線下約80多人參加。

胡川安透過網路從臺灣發表講談。林祈祐談台北的性別空間。(周菊子攝)

             經網路從臺灣發言的胡川安說，人們到臺灣的要務之一，一定是品嘗台灣小吃，例如豬耳朵，魚丸，和大約40年前出現，如今紅遍世界的珍珠奶茶。他這天還從台南虱目魚粥侃侃而談起養殖歷史，以及魯 (滷) 肉飯，臭豆腐等市井小吃，沙茶醬，牛肉麵，左宗棠雞等的歷史淵源，桃園龍岡米干，鼎泰豐小籠包等臺灣日常美食。直言從美食就可看到，臺灣400多年來經歷荷蘭、西班牙、清朝、日本、民國政府統治，飲食文化非常多元。

”斜槓蔬食”推廣素食，蔡高進(右起)、蕭蕙菁示範包紫米飯糰。(周菊子攝)

             林祈佑藉「魯保羅變裝秀 (Nymphia Wing)」第16季冠軍妮妃雅，帶出台北性別空間討論。他以電影「梁山伯與祝英台」，1990年代秀場紅頂藝人，2000年代電視「鐵獅玉玲瓏」談論傳統戲曲，歌仔戲，黃梅調到電視，電子花車表演中的男女反串或跨性別裝扮文化。他還指出和同性戀有千絲萬縷關係的西門町， 228公園 (原新公園)，以及紅樓(原為市場、劇院)，如今是次文化與婚姻平權重要標記地點。時日遷移後，繁華已從西門町轉移到迪斯可舞廳林立「東區」的歷史變遷。

"協槓疏食"的蔡高進(右起)、蕭蕙菁示範包紫米飯糰。(周菊子攝)

活動最高潮是蕭蕙菁和蔡高進、楊美宜等人的「斜槓蔬食 (The Veggie Factor)」團隊，抱著推廣素食理念，準備了芋頭糕，(素) 皮蛋瘦肉粥，滷蛋香菇素肉燥飯，蔥油蛋餅等許多道佳餚的臺灣味早午餐，還現場示範如何包紫米飯糰。Ten ONE Teahouse 則提供超好喝台灣黑糖珍珠奶茶。 (僑務電子報 :    https://ocacnews.net/article/368097) 

蕭蕙菁藉"協槓疏食"宣導素食理念。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓台美菁英會請Andrew Lin 指點房屋買賣101

波士頓台美菁英會 (TAP Boston) 的Sophie Lee (左起) 邀 Andrew Lin
 為年輕人講解買賣房屋101。吳尚錞、周聰等人特地出席聆聽。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange) 波士頓台美菁英會 (TAP Boston) 日前舉辦「房地產101」講座，請羅盤Compass 房地產公司經紀Andrew Lin 為有心了解買房、租房，以及大波士頓地區房屋市場概況者上一課。

            在德州奧斯丁大學唸金融，在財富500強公司工作過，曾替全球性電子商務公司管理橫跨亞洲13國關鍵客戶的Andrew Lin ，為追求個人對音樂愛好，來麻州伯克利音樂學院唸了音樂演奏碩士，也踏進在銷售數量上已連續3年名列全美房地產業第一名的羅盤房地產公司工作。

會場擺放了許多介紹。 (周菊子攝)

            Andrew Lin說明，羅盤公司創立於2012年，總部設在紐約，是一家全球性的公司，曾在10年間投資15億元，研發產業相關科技，如今仍每年在研發上投資約1億元，擁有350人的工程師及產品團隊，在大波士頓設有11家辦公室。

            跨入正題前，Andrew Lin還介紹了一些該公司在Somerville，波士頓經手的發展案，以及今年將推出的3棟新建房屋，並藉以說明在麻州的買房流程，貸款種類，參觀房屋和檢查時該注意些什麼，大波士頓常見那些房屋類型，學區概況，以及如何看懂多重列表服務單(MLS)，出價和談判的技巧等等。

            Andrew Lin列出10大步驟流程，包括預先取得貸款許可，諮詢，和代表買家的房地產經紀簽合同，參觀符合個人標準的房地產，提出買價，檢驗，簽署買賣合約 (P&S)，辦理貸款承保和房價評估，最後的巡視檢查，最後交屋等，然後逐一解說，

            Andrew Lin還提供了一些房地產的市場歷史紀錄，房地產界用的術語縮寫。

由於許多買房子的年輕夫婦很關心學區，Andrew Lin分享了一份2023年麻州最佳公校排行榜，前5名依序為勒星頓 (Lexington)、布魯克蘭鎮 (Brookline)、衛斯頓 (Weston) 、艾克頓(Acton)、Boxborough。2024的麻州私立高中排名則是安多福菲立普學校 (Phillips Academy Andover)，波士頓的麻州學校，Groton的Groton學校，Dedham的Noble and Greenough學校，Southborough的聖馬克學校。

            出價則是一般有5個步驟，首先是經紀揭露價格，然後提出購買房地產要求，取得預先批准貸款信，或者資金證明，註明附加條款，揭露房地產是否含鉛等。此外，交屋前還要做產權搜尋，以及辦理產權保險，以確保買下來的房子不會有問題。

            Andrew Lin這天其實講了很多細節，包括TAP的這場講座主持人Sophie Lee，活動組組長林思妤，北一女校友會副會長廖珮妤，房地產律師周聰，哈佛大學附屬醫院醫師吳尚錞等人，都聽得興味盎然，對講座地點，Compass公司位於波士頓遊客區的Newbury街，更是讚不絕口。

            Sohpie Lee透露，TAP Boston在疫情期間有許多人事變動，不少人搬家，目前正處於整頓期，希望更多有相同志趣者加入。

麻州長提名 Sarah Kennedy、Edward Krippendorf出任地方法院法官

Governor Healey Nominates Sarah Kennedy and Edward Krippendorf to District Court 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura T. Healey nominated Sarah Kennedy and Edward Krippendorf to the District Court. The nominees will now continue forward to the Governor’s Council for confirmation. 

“Sarah and Edward are two distinguished attorneys who will make excellent additions to the District Court,” said Governor Healey. “They have dedicated their careers to the law and I look forward to working with the Governor’s Council to confirm their nominations."

“We thank the Governor’s Council for their work considering the Governor’s judicial nominees. We are hopeful that Sarah and Edward will be able to continue their public service on the District Court bench,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. 

The District Court Department hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors, and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. In civil matters, the District Court hears cases in which the damages are not likely to be more than $50,000 and small claims cases up to $7,000. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the state.

For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage. 

About Sarah Kennedy

Sarah Kennedy currently serves as an Assistant Clerk Magistrate in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court, a position she has held since 2021. Attorney Kennedy is responsible for conducting hearings for criminal complaints, assisting judges with courtroom sessions, and helping staff, litigants and members of the public with navigating the court system. Prior to that, she served as both a prosecutor for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and a defense attorney for the Committee for Public Counsel Services. She has a bachelor’s from Boston College and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and she lives in Waltham with her wife and children.

About Edward (Ed) Krippendorf, Jr. 

Ed Krippendorf is an accomplished and well-respected trial attorney with broad civil and criminal experience. Attorney Krippendorf began his career as a criminal investigator in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office before attending New England School of Law. After graduating cum laude, Attorney Krippendorf worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County for eight years, prosecuting cases in District, Boston Municipal, and Superior Courts. For the last three years in the DA's Office, he tried complicated Superior Court cases while assigned to the Senior Trial and Homicide Units. Attorney Krippendorf now serves as a partner at Eisenstadt Krippendorf Group in Westwood, MA representing private and indigent criminal defendants as well as handling a broad array of civil and administrative matters in a variety of courts. He also volunteers as a Court Conciliator for the Norfolk County Probate and Family Court. He has a B.S. from Salem State College and a J.D. from New England School of Law. He lives in Braintree with his wife and children.