Global Medalists, Boston Champions Highlight 2024 Boston Half Professional Field

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced the professional field for the upcoming 2024 Boston Half presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Returning to Boston are 2024 Paralympic medalists Susannah Scaroni and Daniel Romanchuk, U.S. Olympian Leonard Korir, reigning Boston 10K winner Melknat Wudu, and a collection of the world’s fastest athletes across open, wheelchair, and Para Athletics divisions. The Boston Half will be run on Sunday, November 10, starting and finishing within Franklin Park.

“Nearly 9,000 athletes will take part in this year’s Boston Half, and at the front of the field will be fan favorites striving for event records and personal bests,” said Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the B.A.A. “We’re eager to welcome competitors from more than 40 countries to the roads of Boston, ranging from the world’s best to those looking to complete their first half marathon.”

Scaroni, the 2023 Boston Marathon women’s wheelchair winner, and Romanchuk, Boston Marathon champion in 2019 and 2021 will compete fresh off of racing at the Paralympic Games. In Paris, Scaroni earned three medals (one silver, two bronze) while Romanchuk took home a gold and bronze. Romanchuk will battle defending wheelchair champion Hermin Garic for top men’s honors.

Four months after winning the Boston 10K, Ethiopia’s Wudu returns to the Bay State to make her half marathon debut. Wudu ran 31:15 to win June’s 10K, and is a two-time World Junior Championships silver medalist on the track. She’ll be challenged by fellow Ethiopians Mestawat Fikir and Bosena Mulatie, second and third at last month’s Berlin Marathon.

Additional international stardom comes in the form of Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat, Ethiopians Fentaye Belayneh and Mebrat Gidey, and Britain’s Calli Hauger-Thackery. Chelangat placed 12th at the 2024 Olympic 10,000m, while Belayneh was runner-up at the Boston Half in 2023 and Gidey placed 10th at the 2024 World Cross Country Championships. Hauger-Thackery set a lifetime best 2:21:24 at the Berlin Marathon this year, finishing seventh. B.A.A. High Performance Team member Megan Hasz will be making her half marathon debut, leading the American charge.

Four men boast half marathon personal bests under one hour, including Bernard Ngeno (Kenya, 59:07), Isaac Kipkemboi (Kenya, 59:17), Leonard Korir (USA, 59:52), and Bravin Kiptoo (Kenya, 59:37). Ngeno has won eight international half marathons, while Korir has represented Team USA at two Olympic Games –including a 63rd place finish at the Paris Olympic Marathon.

Olympians Ben Flanagan (Canada) and Yemane Haileselassie (Eritrea) are familiar with the roads of Massachusetts. Flanagan is a three-time Falmouth Road Race winner and finished second at the 2023 Boston 5K; Haileselassie was 3rd at last year’s Boston Half.

Additional Americans in the professional field include Sam Chelanga, 3rd at the 2012 Boston Half and seventh a year ago, Daniel Mesfun, 15th at the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, and Boston-based B.A.A. High Performance Team members Josh Kalapos and Barry Keane. Also from the B.A.A. Racing Team are Erik Linden, Tim McGowan, and Thomas Toth.

In the Para Athletics Division, a quartet of Boston Marathon champions will compete in Marko Cheseto Lemtukei (T61-T64 lower-limb impairment), Atsbha Gebremeskel (T45-T47 upper-limb impairment), Kelly Bruno (T61-T64 lower-limb impairment), and Christina Burbach (T36 coordination impairment). Joining them is world record holder Brian Reynolds (T61-T64 lower-limb impairment), a Massachusetts native.

A complete field list can be found below, with professional athlete bios available here.

The Boston Half course runs along the picturesque Emerald Necklace Park System, past landmarks such as the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Pond, and Franklin Park Zoo, before finishing on Pierpont Road in Franklin Park. The Boston Half is a family-friendly event for athletes and spectators of all ages. Free youth events will be offered on race morning within Franklin Park, including races and medals for all. 

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund has partnered with the B.A.A. Half Marathon since 2003 as the race’s presenting sponsor and exclusive charity team. Through this relationship, Dana-Farber runners have collectively raised more than $10 million to support groundbreaking cancer research, and enabled Dana-Farber scientists and clinicians to positively impact the lives of cancer patients around the world. In advance of the 2024 event, more than 600 Team Dana-Farber athletes have raised funds.

PROFESSIONAL OPEN WOMEN’S FIELD

NAME	COUNTRY	PERSONAL BEST
Bosena Mulatie	Ethiopia	1:05:46 (RAK, 2022)
Mestawut Fikir	Ethiopia	1:06:44 (Larne, 2023)
Veronica Loleo	Kenya	1:07:08 (Copenhagen, 2024)
Vivian Melly	Kenya	1:07:35 (Paris, 2023)
Sarah Chelangat	Uganda	1:07:59 (Copenhagen, 2023)
Calli Hauger-Thackary	Great Britain	1:08:20 (Houston, 2024)
Senayet Getachew	Ethiopia	1:08:37 (Porto, 2022)
Mercy Chelangat	Kenya	1:08:58 (Houston, 2024)
Fentaye Belayneh	Ethiopia	1:09:49 (New Delhi, 2022)
Diana Bogantes	Costa Rica	1:13:08 (Las Vegas, 2023)
Stephanie Rouse	USA	1:15:33 (Hartford, 2023)
Katie McMenamin	USA	1:18:03 (Philadelphia, 2021)
Mebrat Gidey	Ethiopia	Debut
Melknat Wudu	Ethiopia	Debut
Megan Hasz	USA	Debut
Mica Rivera Wood	Peru	Debut
Lauren Ryan	Australia	Debut
Kelsey Swenson	USA	Debut
Courtney Hawkins	USA	N/A

 

PROFESSIONAL OPEN MEN’S FIELD

NAME	COUNTRY	PERSONAL BEST
Benard Ngeno	Kenya	59:07 (Valencia, 2019)
Isaac Kipkemboi	Kenya	59:17 (Rome, 2023)
Leonard Korir	USA	59:52 (New Delhi, 2017)
Bravin Kiptoo	Kenya	59:37 (Valencia, 2020)
Sam Chelanga	USA	1:00:37 (Houston, 2018)
Juan Luis Barrios	Mexico	1:00:46 (Marugame, 2015)
Ben Flanagan	Canada	1:01:00 (Valencia, 2022)
Johannes Motschmann	Germany	1:01:33 (Hamburg, 2024)
Yemane Haileselassie	Eritrea	1:01:34 (Houston, 2024)
Fearghal Curtin	Ireland	1:01:45 (Houston, 2024)
Daniel Mesfun	USA	1:02:13 (Grand Rapids, 2024)
Thomas Fafard	Canada	1:02:19 (Houston, 2024)
Segundo Jami	Ecuador	1:02:28 (Buenos Aires, 2022)
Ryan Johnson	USA	1:02:31 (Houston, 2024)
Haimro Alame	Israel	1:02:38 (Tiberias, 2022)
Afewerki Zeru	USA	1:02:40 (Duluth, 2023)
Max Turek	Canada	1:02:49 (Toronto, 2023)
James Quattlebaum	USA	1:03:28 (Indianapolis, 2019)
Ayrton Ledesma	Mexico	1:03:25 (Long Beach, 2022)
Tim McGowan	USA	1:03:54 (Philadelphia, 2023)
Ryan Cutter	USA	1:03:54 (Philadelphia, 2022)
Erik Linden	USA	1:04:09 (Houston, 2024)
Barry Keane	Ireland	1:04:11 (Philadelphia, 2024)
Joseph Minor	USA	1:04:15 (Duluth, 2024)
Thomas Toth	Canada	1:04:28 (Houston, 2016)
Robert Miranda	USA	1:05:12 (San Jose, 2023)
Josh Kalapos	USA	1:05:46 (New Bedford, 2023)
Michael Durkin	USA	1:07:00 (New Bedford, 2024)
Spencer Friske	USA	1:08:09 (Boston, 2023)
Tanner Chada	USA	Debut
Zablon Chumba	Kenya	Debut
Isaac Harding	USA	Debut
Andrew Kaye	USA	Debut
Kieran Lumb	Canada	Debut
Nickolas Scudder	USA	Debut

 

WHEELCHAIR & PARA ATHLETICS DIVISION FIELD

MEN
NAME	COUNTRY	CLASSIFICATION
Daniel Romanchuk	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Jacob Allen	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Hermin Garic	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Aidan Gravelle	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Jeyna Senbeta	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Dustin Stallberg	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Wyatt Willand	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Marko Cheseto Lemtukei	USA	T61/T64 Lower-Limb Impairment
Brian Reynolds	USA	T61/T64 Lower-Limb Impairment
Atsbha Gebremeskel	ETH	T45-T47 Upper-Limb Impairment
WOMEN
NAME	COUNTRY	CLASSIFICATION
Susannah Scaroni	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Hannah Babalola	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Yen Hoang	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Chelsea Stein	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Michelle Wheeler	USA	T53/T54 Wheelchair Division
Kelly Bruno	USA	T61/T64 Lower-Limb Impairment
Christina Burbach	USA	T36 Coordination Impairment

 

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.7 Million in Grants to Add 342 Career and Technical Education Seats Across Massachusetts

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.7 Million in Grants to Add 342 Career and Technical Education Seats Across Massachusetts

Funding supports workforce development, career training and industry collaboration in areas like advanced manufacturing, early education, health assisting 

LYNN – The Healey-Driscoll Administration is awarding $1.7 million in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Partnership Grants to six Massachusetts schools and school district partnerships, adding 342 new seats for students in fields such as advanced manufacturing, early education and care, and health assisting. These partnerships, known as “After Dark” programs, take place after the school day and create collaboration between career and technical education schools and local comprehensive traditional public high schools to provide students at public schools with access to career and technical education.  

 

Announced today at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute during STEM week, these grants will enhance workforce development efforts and strengthen partnerships between schools and industry leaders, helping to prepare students and workers for jobs in high-demand fields in Massachusetts' economy. 

 

"Investing in career and technical education is essential to preparing our workforce for the future,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will give students access to the tools and training they need to succeed in critical industries, from advanced manufacturing to early education and care, while also creating stronger ties between schools and employers to ensure that education programs match real-world demand.” 

 

"Partnerships between schools and industry leaders are the backbone of our workforce development strategy,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By aligning education with the skills that employers need, we’re empowering students and workers to take advantage of high-quality job opportunities while helping businesses grow.” 

 

As part of the administration’s “Reimagining High School” initiative, the CTE Partnership Grants equip students and workers with the skills they need to succeed in today’s dynamic job market through development of innovative, hands-on learning opportunities that align with current industry needs. Awardees in communities with a high demand for CTE, as well as Gateway Cities, were prioritized.  

 

“An important part of our Reimagining High School initiative is providing students with engaging, hands-on experiences that mirror their future careers. I am excited to be back in Lynn today to make this announcement during STEM week and lift up how career and technical education is a key part of these efforts. We know there is demand for this type of learning in our comprehensive public schools and career technical education schools, and this grant program is helping us reach more students and communities,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. 

 

“These grants reflect the importance of giving additional students access to career technical education,” said Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “I’m happy to see such strong collaboration between schools and districts for the benefit of students.” 

 

“STEM education is key to unlocking our students’ potential and preparing them for a future filled with possibilities,” said Lynn Mayor Nicholson. “We appreciate the state’s commitment to enhancing and expanding STEM for all students. This grant will provide transformational opportunities that will empower our youth and promote further innovation and exploration in their academics.”

 

Awardees: 

 

North Shore After Dark Partnership Program: $83,655 

This grant funding will allow the North Shore After Dark Partnership Program to expand to an additional 120 students, increasing access to programs in Advanced Manufacturing, Construction Craft Labor, Early Education and Care, Health Assisting, and Sustainable Horticulture, which are all in high demand in the local labor market for full time skilled and credentialed employees. The North Shore After Dark Partnership Program is a collaborative program, including Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, Beverly Public Schools, Danvers Public Schools, Gloucester Public Schools, Marblehead Public Schools, Rockport Public Schools, and Swampscott Public Schools that provides career training and career pathways in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education programs.  

 

Greater Lawrence Technical School Partnership Program: $251,376 

Through this grant funding, Greater Lawrence Technical School will expand its After Dark Partnership Program to 30 additional 11^th grade students in Information Support Services and Networking and Health Assisting, with a focus on supporting students of color and multilingual learners. This After Dark Partnership Program includes Greater Lawrence Technical School, Lawrence Public Schools, Methuen Public School, Andover Public School and North Andover Public Schools. 

 

Leicester Public School District Partnership Program: $35,000 

Leicester Public School District has recently been approved to provide career technical opportunities in Building & Property Maintenance and Early Education and Care. This grant funding will enable them to create a planning committee with Shrewsbury Public Schools to identify other high schools in central Massachusetts that are not already members to a regional technical high school and create pathways for those students to enroll at Leicester’s After Dark Partnership Program, opening up an estimated 20 additional seats to local high school students. 

 

Lynn Public School District Partnership Program: $397,625 

This grant funding will allow Lynn Public Schools to add 48 seats annually to their After Dark Partnership Program at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute in Advanced Manufacturing, HVAC, Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies, and Health Assisting, which are all areas where there is locally high demand in the labor market demand.  

 

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School Partnership Program: $839,000 

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School is creating a new partnership with Fitchburg Public Schools, Gardner Public Schools, and Narragansett Regional School District, adding 84 additional seats in Carpentry and Electrical. Through this program, participating students will take academic courses one week in their home district, and then travel to the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School for career technical instruction the following week. 

 

Salem and Beverley Public School Districts Partnership Program: $181,719 

The grant funding will expand the Salem Beverly After Dark partnership, adding 40 additional new seats across Advanced Manufacturing, Construction Craft Laborers, Health Assisting, and Sustainable Horticulture programs. Salem and Beverly Public School students will take classes at their high schools during the day and then take career and technical education classes at Essex Tech in the afternoon.

Governor Healey Proclaims Celtics Banner 18 Day

 Governor Healey Proclaims Celtics Banner 18 Day 

BOSTON – Ahead of the raising of the Boston Celtics’ 18th World Championship banner on Opening Night at the T.D. Garden on Tuesday, Governor Maura Healey has declared that October 22, 2024 will be Celtics Banner 18 Day in Massachusetts. 

The proclamation reads: 

Whereas the Boston Celtics are unquestionably the greatest franchise in basketball history, founded in 1946 as an original member of what became the National Basketball Association, winning their first of a record 18 championships in 1957 under legendary coach Arnold “Red” Auerbach, and featuring Hall of Fame players like Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, among many others;   

Whereas the Celtics have not only been the best team on the court, they also have led the movement for social justice in sports, including by fielding the League’s first all-Black starting five, appointing the League’s first Black head coach in Bill Russell at a time when Russell was a leading voice in the Civil Rights Movement, and continuing today to set the standard for community engagement in professional sports;   

Whereas the 2023-2024 Celtics upheld and added to this legacy by achieving one of the greatest seasons in NBA history, winning 64 regular season games, going 16-3 in the playoffs, having the most efficient offense ever recorded and the fifth-best point differential in league history, and outscoring opponents by an average of 11 points on the way to winning the Celtics’ 18th NBA Championship;   

Whereas on a squad that embodied the strength of teamwork, the 2023-2024 Celtics featured outstanding individual achievements, including NBA Executive of the Year Brad Stevens, Coach Joe Mazzulla who now owns the highest winning percentage of any coach in NBA history, First Team All-NBA Forward Jayson Tatum, Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, All Defensive Team guards Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, first Dominican NBA Champion Al Horford and first Latvian NBA Champion Kristaps Porzingis;   

Whereas the Celtics’ continued excellence brings joy to the residents of Massachusetts and basketball fans around the world, their commitment to hard work and team unity offers a powerful example to young people, and their devotion to community uplifts our state, reflects our shared values, and makes us proud;   

Therefore, in recognition of this all-time great championship season for our beloved Boston Celtics,   

We proclaim Tuesday, October 22, 2024, to be Celtics Banner 18 Day.   

中華廣教學校慶祝建校108年 表揚陳毓璇、陳毓禮兄弟

廣教學校董事長梁爾尊(右一)和董事黃偉濂(左二)、陳家驊(左一)頒發表揚講座，
由陳毓禮的兒子陳孟君(右二)，陳毓璇的妻子黃景佩(前)代表接受。(廣教學校提供)

               (Boston Orange) 中華廣教學校10月18日晚在帝苑大酒樓舉辦108週年校慶籌款晚會，近500名師生，家長及嘉賓出席，向已辭世的波士頓僑領陳毓璇、陳毓禮兄弟致敬，感謝捐款10萬5千元的陳耀民夫婦，以及所有熱心支持者為廣教學校募得19萬餘元。

               從1916年由波士頓安良工商會創建以來，中華廣教學校不但是美東地區的第一所中文學校，還成為全美極少數擁有自置物業的中文學校之一。校地面積將近1萬7千平方英尺，設有多功能表演藝術中心，電腦室，圖書館，舞蹈室，以及13間教室。

陳毓璇與陳毓禮全家。(廣教學校年刊截圖)

               在廣教學校成立以來的這108年中，包括擔任校長時間最長的湯鳳鳴，曾任董事長的黃兆英，陳秀英，以及當晚表揚的陳毓璇、陳毓禮兄弟，有無數人曾為廣教學校的存在、發展做過貢獻。

               甫於今年8月接任校長王焰彬特在該校董事長梁爾尊致詞後指出，108在中國文化中是個幸運數字，既有「西遊記」中孫悟空的師父，菩提祖師精通108種變化，還有「水滸傳」的梁山108條好漢。中華廣教學校遇上108週年，也是幸運無比的能在新冠病毒疫情期間，推出免費線上課程，並在有如108條好漢般的校董及熱心地方人士等扶持中，度過難關。

               陳毓璇的妻子黃景佩，陳毓禮的兒子陳孟君，這晚依序分別代表陳毓璇、陳毓禮領獎，並在廣教學校準備的說明中，和當晚出席的所有人，一起回顧了這兩兄弟對華埠社區的許多貢獻。

               2021年11月26日辭世的陳毓璇，一生積極參與波士頓華埠事務，不但身為環太平洋特許學校 (Asian Pacific Rim Charter School)、中華頤養院等的創辦人之一，還在為華埠爭取建造低收入住宅資金上有很大貢獻。

廣教學校董事與嘉賓合影。左一起為校長王焰彬，波士頓僑教中心主任高家富、
撥士頓經文處副處長施維鈞。(廣教學校提供)

            在巔峰時期，曾同時投資、參與經營18家餐廳的陳毓璇，率團隊與波士頓重建局、塔芙茨大學協商，爭取到資金來建造大同村，其後再成功遊說波士頓市政府把舊昆士小學校舍轉移給中華公所，作為波士頓華埠的社區中心。

波士頓市不分區市議員Henry Santana(中向右) 頒發表揚狀給中華廣教學校，
由校長王焰彬，董事長梁爾尊代表接受。(廣教學校提供)

廣教學校醒獅隊與校董及嘉賓合影。(廣教學校提供)

            他一生關愛華埠，動用他的政商關係，伸手援助過無數人家，幫過許多人找工作，更為許許多多的非牟利組織籌過款，總是滿臉帶笑的說「Life is beautiful (生命是美好的)」，給人希望。

            2023年10月9日辭世的陳毓禮，早從1960年代就和兄長陳毓璇致力服務波士頓華埠，更在與陳毓璇一同拜會波士頓前市長Kevin White時，明白了波士頓華埠和市政府之間的距離關鍵，在於選票數量，於是2兄弟逐戶拍門拜訪居民，把波士頓華埠的登記選民人數，從300多人拉升到3600多人，從此奠定政界影響力。

            陳毓禮早在1971年就呼籲波士頓華人從政，但直到2013年才終於有吳弭參選，並當選為波士頓市首名華裔市議員，其後再於2021年當選為波士頓市長。

            曾歷任Kevin White、Ray Flynn和Tom Menino 3任波士頓市長的採購局局長 (Purchasing Agent)，陳毓禮以其政商關係，尤其是他和波士頓市任期最長，已辭世前市長萬寧路 (Tom Menino)的有如兄弟情誼，成為波士頓華埠和市政府之間的最堅實橋樑與溝通管道，在許多與華埠有關事務上，有著舉足輕重份量。

廣教學校部分師生合影。(廣教學校提供)

            在廣教學校與華美福利會合作自建樓宇後，陳毓璇，陳毓禮2兄弟還和波士頓華埠第一位在麻州州長辦公室任要職的陳秀英等人合作無間，輔佐、支持這創建於1916年，有著美東第一所中文學校地位的廣教學校的營運。

波士頓市議員Ed Flynn夫婦和廣教學校表演的小朋友合影。(廣教學校提供)

               10月18日晚，出席嘉賓眾多，波士頓不分區市議員Henry Santana、Julia Meija，第二區市議員Ed Flynn，麻州參議員Nick Collins的助理Haley Dillon，波士頓市長亞裔聯絡員黃楚嵐，以及波士頓經文處副處長施維鈞，波士頓僑教中心主任高家富等人紛紛到賀。

               波士頓市消防局副局長黃瑞瑜，作為廣教學校董事之一，和董事會的董事長梁爾尊、副董事長雷國輝、財政陳德慈、書記Lina Fikri，以及董事陳家驊，史月琳，陳遇均，鍾曼怡，陳鐵堅，蔡麗梨，黃綺，業家威，黃偉濂，阮愛玲等人也幾乎全員出席。

               在周年慶籌款會節目冊上，廣教學校還恭喜了獲選進入3所考試學校的該校課後班學生中，包括波士頓拉丁學院的史美欣，波士頓拉丁學校的關燁晴、陳晉熙、黃燈楊、潘美琪，約翰奧布萊恩數學及科學學校的梁雅詩、梅樂濠。

Tom McGeer將接掌MBTA董事會主席

Governor Healey Appoints Tom McGee as Next Chair of the MBTA Board of Directors 

Director Tom Glynn to step down November 1 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today announced that she is appointing Thomas M. McGee as the next Chair of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Association (MBTA) Board of Directors. McGee has served as a board member since April 2023. He is the former Mayor of Lynn and previously served in the Senate, where he chaired the Transportation Committee. Current Chair Thomas P. Glynn has announced his intention to step down from the Board effective November 1. 

“I’m deeply grateful to Tom Glynn for his lifetime of service to the people of Massachusetts, and particularly for his leadership as Chair of the MBTA Board of Directors. Working together with Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, General Manager Eng and the entire Board, Tom has overseen a transformative period at the T and worked to improve safety and reliability across the system. I thank him for his constant guidance and wisdom and wish him the best of luck in this next chapter,” said Governor Healey. “I’m proud to be appointing Tom McGee as the next Chair of the MBTA Board of Directors. As the former Mayor of a Gateway City and Senate Chairman of the Transportation Committee, he knows how critical our transportation infrastructure is for the communities in and around Boston, and across our entire state. He has been a trusted and reliable voice on the MBTA Board, and I’m excited for the future of the T with his leadership.” 

“Massachusetts couldn’t ask for stronger leaders in transportation than Tom Glynn and Tom McGee. Working together these past two years with the entire team, they have delivered improvements at the T that haven’t been seen in decades,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “I’m thankful for Tom Glynn’s years of service to Massachusetts and congratulate Tom McGee as he steps into this new role.” 

As Chair of the MBTA Board of Directors, Tom Glynn has helped to steer the agency through a transformative period. He has worked closely with Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, MBTA General Manager Phil Eng, and the entire Board to improve safety and reliability across the system. In the past year and a half, the T has made historic progress on removing slow zones on every subway line, launched a low-income fares program and contactless pay, overseen significant improvements with hiring and retention, achieved labor agreements with the entire workforce, and renegotiated the contract for new Orange and Red Line subway cars to get the project back on track. 

Prior to his service on the MBTA Board, Glynn served as the General Manager of the MBTA under Governor Michael Dukakis, CEO of Massport under Governor Deval Patrick, Deputy Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration, and Chief Operating Officer of Partners Healthcare (now called Mass General Brigham | Integrated Health Care System). He also served as Co-Chair of the Public Transportation Committee for the Healey-Driscoll Transition Committee. 

“I’m proud of the work that the MBTA Board has done these past couple of years with the strong partnership of Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary Tibbits-Nutt and General Manager Eng,” said Tom Glynn. “This Board showed up every day with the urgency necessary to meet the challenges facing the T, and we refused to settle for the status quo. As a result, we’ve been able to deliver major improvements across the system and dramatically improve safety and reliability. I’m confident that the T will continue making important progress under the leadership of Tom McGee.” 

Tom McGee has served on the MBTA Board of Directors since April 2023 and on the MassDOT Board of Directors since June 2023. He was Mayor of the City of Lynn from 2018 to 2022. Previously, he served as Massachusetts State Senator from the Third Essex district. He was a member of the Joint Committee on Transportation starting in 2003 and served as Senate Chair of the committee from 2011 to 2018. Before his election to the Senate in 2002, McGee served four terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he represented West Lynn and Nahant. Prior to holding office, McGee practiced law at Quinn and Morris (1990-1994) and served as an Assistant District Attorney for Essex County (1988-1990). McGee is a life-long resident of Lynn where he lives with his wife Maria and has two children. He is committed to improving the state's transportation system and strongly supports regional equity. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at the St Mary's School in Lynn. He is also a member of the Pickering Middle School Building Committee in Lynn.    

“I’m honored that Governor Healey has placed her faith in me to lead the incredible team at the MBTA Board of Directors,” said Tom McGee. “We have done important work together since coming together as a Board, and I’m looking forward to partnership further with Secretary Tibbits-Nutt and General Manager Eng to deliver on our promise of a world-class public transportation system that we can all be proud of. I’m grateful for the strong leadership of Tom Glynn and look forward to continuing to build on the progress he has started.” 

The other members of the MBTA Board of Directors are Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky, Robert Butler, Eric L. Goodwine, Mary Skelton Roberts and Chanda Smart. Governor Healey will be appointing another member in the near future.  

“It has been such an honor to work together alongside Chair Tom Glynn to ensure that the MBTA had the investment, support, and infrastructure it needed to meet the Commonwealth’s transit demands now and in the future. He has led with intentionality and grit, and the MBTA is better for it,” said Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “Having Director Tom McGee step in as the incoming Board Chair is a gift. I can’t think of a better ally, advocate, and champion than him. His considerable experience and lifelong commitment to service will help us create a more robust, equitable, and reliable transit system.” 

“Tom Glynn has had such a storied career, and with every role he has taken on, he has led with an unmatched devotion to Massachusetts and the people he interacted with. His time as Chair of the MBTA Board was no different, and under his leadership, the T has made great strides.   I’ve been blessed to have had this opportunity to work with Tom, and I am forever better,” said General Manager Phillip Eng. “Governor Healey made a slam dunk game-winner with Tom Glynn’s appointment, and Director McGee is a true professional who has also served the Commonwealth throughout his career. I’m confident the future of the MBTA is bright with him as the Chair.” 

MAYOR MICHELLE WU RENAMES BRIDGE HONORING BILL RUSSELL AND HIS LEGACY IN BOSTON

MAYOR MICHELLE WU RENAMES BRIDGE HONORING BILL RUSSELL AND HIS LEGACY IN BOSTON North Washington Street Bridge to now carry name of Celtics great and civil rights champion BOSTON - Monday, October 21, 2024 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu joined Mrs. Jeannine Russell, Governor Maura Healey, state and local officials, and Celtics leadership and players to rename the North Washington Street Bridge as the William Felton ‘Bill’ Russell Bridge. Russell, a civil rights activist and Celtics legend, passed away in 2022. The bridge renaming honors his dedication to civil rights, justice, and the fostering of Boston's youth and young athletes. This bridge, currently under construction, spans the Charles River and connects Charlestown to the West End and North End near TD Garden. A plaque on the northbound side of the bridge will be installed in summer of 2025.  “Bill Russell was a champion not only on the basketball court, but in his daily life fighting for equality and serving as a role model for future athletes and activists,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “It’s fitting that a man known for his vision and determination to create bridges to our future will now always be commemorated on the gateway into Downtown Boston. I’m grateful to Mrs. Jeannine Russell who worked with us to find the right way to memorialize his legacy, and all who helped create this tribute to a beloved Boston figure.” “This bridge, like Bill, stands strong and enduring. It connects people with purpose, just as he connected the struggles of the past with the hopes of the future. It symbolizes progress—moving us forward while reminding us of the foundations that hold us up. I am so pleased & grateful for all involved who made this day happen,” said Jeannine Russell. “Bill Russell was a giant. On the court, he was an unmatched defender, facilitator and leader. The intensity and passion he brought to the game made him a natural leader off the court as well, making powerful contributions to the Civil Rights movement and inspiring millions, even today," said Governor Maura Healey. "It is so meaningful to stand with the Russell Family to rename this bridge in his honor, and I’m grateful to Mayor Wu for making this happen. I hope that everyone who travels across this bridge will take a moment to think about the man that made such a positive impact in Massachusetts and beyond.” "Bill Russell built his legacy in Boston on his civil rights leadership and with his prowess on the basketball court. His leadership paved the way for athletes today to not only thrive on the basketball court but also as advocates off the court. This dedication will cement that legacy in Boston forever," said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz. Russell was an instrumental part of the Celtics’ dynasty in the late 1950’s and 60’s, and was a part of 11 NBA Championship teams as both a player and a coach. He was twice inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Russell was a trailblazer for Black athletes and a fierce supporter for civil rights, later earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. Off the court, he was devoted to MENTOR, an organization that works to foster quality mentors for youth, for which he was a founding board member.  “Bill Russell was a legend both on and off the court,” said Celtics co-owner and president of the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation Steve Pagliuca.  “Through his groundbreaking activism for racial justice, he paved the way for future athletes to use their platform to demand equal rights and take a stand on issues outside of the arena. Russell’s legacy transcends basketball and we are honored today to celebrate the renaming of the North Washington St. Bridge to the 'William Felton Bill Russell Bridge'." “This groundbreaking bridge naming for Bill is fitting in that he was the ultimate champion, leader, and teammate linking diverse groups together,” said David Shapiro, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston and former CEO of MENTOR. “He was a champion and advocate for the power of mentoring relationships for young people having helped found MENTOR, the nation’s leader for the youth mentoring movement. He was brilliant, funny, and never stopped fighting for human rights for all and demanded we confront the past to better the present and future. Grounded in his own experience, he saw the universality of the quest for equity for any group or individual and used his voice to elevate voices, action, and accountability.” Bridge construction, led by MassDOT in partnership with the City’s Streets Cabinet, is expected to be completed in early 2025. The bridge is partially open to drivers and pedestrians as the construction finishes. A plaque with Bill Russell’s name will be installed in summer of 2025.  “As this bridge plays a vital role in connecting communities and literally bringing people together, it is fitting that it is named after Bill Russell, a man who did those very things throughout his life,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “Our hope is that the thousands of people who cross this bridge on a daily basis are reminded of the indelible legacy that he left behind, not only in the city of Boston but across the country.” “Bill Russell made a significant impact on and off the court. I am thrilled that the City of Boston and MassDOT found a unique way to forever honor his legacy. I am confident that the public will be pleased with the new bridge,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.

“I am proud to witness the renaming of the North Washington Street Bridge to the William Felton Bill Russell Bridge,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “Bill Russell’s legacy extends far beyond basketball—he was a champion for equality, justice, and uplifting the most vulnerable members of society. Renaming this bridge in his honor is not only a tribute to one of Boston’s greatest sports icons, but also a lasting symbol of his commitment to making our nation more just and inclusive. Charlestown will now forever be connected to his incredible legacy, serving as a reminder of the greatness we can all aspire to achieve on and off the court. I want to thank Mayor Wu for bestowing this honor on one of Boston's greatest champions.” "Bill Russell is a great man and icon. He represents overcoming and coming together,” said Senator Lydia Edwards. “His legacy is cemented as a symbol of sportsmanship and hope." “Bill Russell epitomized what it meant to be a leader and a champion both on and off the court. What Russell meant to his teammates and the City of Boston while he was here, and the contributions he continued to make throughout his life were immense,” said Rep. Danny Ryan. “I want to thank Mayor Wu for such a thoughtful tribute and Governor Healey for prioritizing this project’s completion. When finished this bridge will inspire awe the way its namesake did for generations.” “Bill Russell’s legend went beyond the basketball court. His legacy as a social justice activist and bridge builder transcends sports. There is no better individual to represent connectivity between two of my neighborhoods in Boston,” said Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata. “Thank you to his family for sharing him and his likeness with us for so many years, and to everyone who work tirelessly to build bridges everyday.”

Comcast捐款3萬元 Tech Goes Home將擴展進Holyoke和春田市

 Tech Goes Home Receives $30,000 Grant from Comcast to Expand Programming in Holyoke and Springfield

The grant brings Comcast’s total support for Tech Goes Home’s digital inclusion programming to $130,000 in 2024

BOSTON, October 21, 2024—Tech Goes Home (TGH), a leading Massachusetts-based nonprofit committed to closing the digital divide, recently received a $30,000 grant from Comcast to expand digital skills programming in the Gateway Cities of Holyoke and Springfield. The recent grant brings Comcast’s total 2024 commitment to supporting TGH’s digital inclusion efforts to $130,000. 

“Comcast has been a critical partner in our efforts to ensure communities across Massachusetts have the resources to thrive in the digital world and aren’t left behind,” said Dan Noyes, CEO of Tech Goes Home. “Their continued support has enabled Tech Goes Home to offer digital skills training, affordable internet access, and a laptop or tablet to thousands of people who use them to find a new job, access housing, further their education, and so much more. Earlier this year, Comcast awarded TGH $100,000 to expand its programmatic offerings in Greater Boston. We are thankful for Comcast’s commitment to closing the digital divide in Massachusetts.”

In September, TGH was chosen as one of three nonprofits to receive funding from Comcast’s Project Up initiative. This initiative aims to advance digital equity through community partnerships. The award will help TGH expand its offerings in Holyoke and Springfield, where they will work hand-in-hand with community partners  — including schools, libraries, and nonprofits – to support a network of local instructors and provide learners with a laptop or tablet, reliable no-cost internet access, and 15 hours of digital skills training. 

According to the surveys of TGH graduates, in 2023, 88 percent of graduates reported using their new digital tools and skills to communicate with colleagues, friends, and loved ones.  Additionally, 80 percent of parents and caregivers became more involved in their child’s education. Furthermore, 81 percent of graduates used their skills to get a new or better job, secure a pay raise, enroll in educational or work training programs, or start a business. Notably, 73 percent of graduates applied what they learned to access health and wellness resources online. 

波士頓市長重提企業物業稅 下修成為期3年從182%起調降

                (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 波士頓市向麻州政府遞交的調整稅賦結構申請，在企業界強力要求波士頓市府考慮刪減開支，動用近10億元儲備款等變通辦法，麻州參議會遲遲未同意下，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)提出為期3年，稅收負擔轉移從第1年的182%，逐年降至175%的更新版家規法請願。

               由於新冠病毒疫情後，居家工作成為新常態，許多辦公室樓宇空置，波士頓市商業房地產價值下降，來自商業房地產的稅收也大幅減少，導致一般居民的單家庭屋物業稅可能上漲到27.8%。波士頓市長吳弭因此提議變更稅賦結構，想要提高商業房地產稅率，以減少一般民眾的稅賦重擔。

               吳弭市長起初在今年3月底提議，5年內把商業房地產稅率從調升至居民房地產稅的200%起，逐年遞減至州政府原訂上限的175%。7月底和麻州眾議會領導達成協議，改成為期3年，最高稅率降為190%。如今由於麻州參議會持續爭辯，迄未同意，吳弭市長再提出新方案，要從2025會計年度開始，在為期3年內，把最高稅率降至182%，再依次調降為180%，178%，然後到2028年時回到州政府原訂上限175%。

               同時，吳弭市長還計畫給員工50人以下，年營收500萬元以下的小企業，共4500萬元的減稅優惠。小企業的個人物業稅豁免額，從1萬元提高至3萬元。

               企業界及財政監督機構，包括大波士頓商會會長James Rooney，麻州納稅人基金會，麻州NAIOP，以及波士頓地方政府研究局都擔憂這作法對企業界可能有的衝擊，建議波士頓市政府找替代方案，縮減開支或動用市政府近10億元的儲備款。