星期二, 6月 23, 2015

僑委會副委員信世昌拜會紐英崙中華公所

僑委會副委員長信世昌(中)在紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦(左)
,溯源公所顧問雷國輝(右)等人陪同中,拜會紐英崙中華
公所。(菊子攝)
僑委會副委員長信世昌廿一日拜會波士頓僑界,出席廣教學校畢業典禮,拜會中華公所,視察僑委會與波士頓僑界贊助的中華公所圖書館,參觀紐英崙婦女新運會會址,欣見蔣中正,蔣宋美齡照片,感嘆波士頓真是歷史名城。
僑委會副委員長信世昌(左四)由經文處處長賴銘琪(左三)
,紐英崙婦女新運會前會長李曹秀萍(右一)等人陪同,參觀婦女會,
和牆上的歷史照片合影。左起,陳永豐,郭大文,賴銘琪,信世昌,
阮鴻燦,馬滌凡,李壽泮,張景南,李曹秀萍。(菊子攝)
            僑委會副委員長信世昌與僑委會僑教處處長張景南,僑教專員陳永豐等人,六月十九日至廿一日在劍橋市麻省理工學院主持“全球華文網路教育研討會”,並於會議閉幕後,趕往波士頓華埠,參加廣教學校畢業典禮,再在紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦,溯源公所顧問雷國輝及駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪,波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文等人陪同中,參觀中華公所大樓,視察設在中華公所大樓,僑委會與波士頓僑界贊助的中華公所圖書館。
僑委會副委員長信世昌(右五)視察僑委會贊助的中華公所圖書館。
右起,雷國輝,李壽泮,陳文浩,賴銘琪,信世昌,阮鴻燦,
張景南,馬滌凡,陳永豐,郭大文。(菊子攝)
            信世昌參觀僑教中心圖書館時,見到館中文報章齊全,書籍冊數逾千,桌椅舒適,還有電視,尤其是館旗幟鮮明,很是滿意,還向勤館員探問,波城僑胞都喜歡借看哪些書。
            在信世昌參觀中華公所會議室時,波士頓僑務委員馬滌凡特地指出,掛在牆上的是歷屆中華公所主席相片,其中現已過世的黃鴻樞,曾經是波士頓僑務委員,以及國民黨波士頓分部常委。
            李氏公所元老李壽泮接著邀信世昌等人到中華公所大樓地下室,參觀李氏信用社,以及紐英崙婦女新運會會址。
信世昌在紐英崙婦女新運會會址牆上,看到蔣宋美齡,蔣中正的合照,在民國三十年時,發給婦女新運會的簽名證書,以及蔣宋美齡在該會甲子金禧慶時送上的“邦家之光”書法題字,忍不住細細觀看,還拿手機拍,仿佛霎時間和歷史連上線。
台灣報章早於五月下旬刊文報導,馬英九將於七月上旬成為訪問波士頓的來自台灣第一位總統。
自由時報在該一報導中還清楚寫明,“馬英九過境波士頓時,將下榻在哈佛廣場的爾斯四星級酒店,美方同意馬英九到哈佛探訪過去就讀的法學院和學生宿舍,哈佛校長福斯特(Drew Gilpin Faust )可望出面接待。波士頓僑界預定為馬英九舉行晚宴,馬英九將在僑宴時發表演“。
波士頓僑界已有不少人私下談論此事,馬英九曾任中華公所英文書記的事,也再被提起。


            
        

哈佛學生學者慶端午 吟詩奏樂唱歌吃粽子

哈佛大學中國學生學者聯誼會(HUCSSA)六月廿日晚,在該校福爾摩斯(Holmes)廳舉辦“端午節野餐詩歌音樂會”,近百人在歌聲中思古念今,遙想屈原,深思何謂愛國,探討人生意義。
            活動主辦人,黃河合唱樂團指揮岳林博士在開場致詞中指出,中國在2008年時,把端午節確定為法定假日之一,但哈佛CSSA早從2001年開始,就每年舉辦端午節活動,紀念屈原,因為他們懷有中國文化傳人的責任感,欣賞屈原的抱理想主義精神不肯同流合污,也為屈原的在秦國攻破郢都後,懷抱大石投汨羅江自進而慨嘆。
        哈佛CSSA今年的端午節詩歌會,由郭曉茜擔任司儀,共有不下12項節目,包括曾圭,宋文宇,朱筠等三人演出“屈原臨江”獨幕詩劇,黃河合唱團女聲小合唱隊演唱“滄浪之水”,王雪琳演唱“沅水”。
            這場音樂會強調詩歌,選唱的多首歌曲,歌詞都是古詩,包括郭曉茜朗誦,岳林演唱徐志摩的“再別康橋“,李白的”贈汪倫“。廖東穗演唱孟浩然的“春曉”,馬志遠的“天淨沙”。
            在表演者朗誦,吟唱出一句句地“悄悄地,我走了,不帶走一片雲彩”,以及“枯藤老樹昏鴉,小橋流水人家,古道西風瘦馬,夕陽西下,斷腸人在天涯”時,全場靜悄無聲,感動流串在空氣中。
            京劇唱奏,是這場音樂會中的另一高潮。曾經是專業演員的李嘉音在龔承周二胡伴奏中演唱“蘇三起解”,還反串小生的唱了一段。波士頓京劇社的朱惠元在柯慶恩的京胡伴奏中,演唱“兒行千里母擔憂”後,應岳林要求,也反串女角的唱了一段,給會場帶來一段男女角反串鬥陣的趣味。
            樂器演奏也是當晚的一大表演環節。先是柯慶恩以京胡獨奏“夜深沉“,弓起弦落,樂音急促,牽人心弦,曲罷,全場爆出熱烈掌聲。
            獲有中央音樂學院鋼琴碩士學位的陳楊獨奏“快樂牧童“,新英格蘭音樂學院的小提琴手Justin DeFilippis演奏巴赫E大調第三號小提琴組曲。
            音樂會最後在黃河合唱團女聲小合唱隊和騰雅歌,騰雅橙這兩名小朋友合唱“紅蜻蜓”聲中落幕。
            音樂會後,出席者轉往室外,一邊享用主辦活動者準備的秭歸茶滷蛋,湘西酸辣湯等屈原故地的風味食品,汨羅江粽子,一邊欣賞曾獲香港國際武術大賽四項金牌的陳笑儀示範武術。

圖片說明:

            詩歌音樂會主辦人岳林(右一)請哈佛CSSA新任主席孫陸(左六)和表演者合影。(菊子攝)

            岳林(左起)介紹朱惠元,柯慶恩每年都為該活動表演。(菊子攝)

            陳笑儀示範武術。(菊子攝)

            黃河合唱團女聲小合唱部的部分團員與騰雅歌,騰雅橙兩名小朋友在會後合影。(菊子攝)


羅德島州馬塔納克小學孔子課堂揭牌

羅德島大學孔子學院日前為馬塔納克小學(Matunuck Elementary School)歷經四年籌備,終於獲得漢辦批准掛牌的孔子課堂,舉行揭牌儀式,逾百人出席慶祝。
羅德島大學副教務長Cliff Katz、羅德島大學孔子學院院長何文潮博士、南金士頓(South Kingston)學區學監Kristen Stringfellow、馬塔納克小學校長Elizabeth McGuire、前校長Deb Zepp等嘉賓都親自到會,表達祝賀。
何文潮院長為揭牌儀式致開幕辭。他回顧馬塔納克孔子課堂從2011年籌辦,2014年才獲漢辦批准的籌建不易,感謝羅德島大學、南金士頓學區、馬塔納克兩任校長大力支持,祝願孔子課堂未來發展美好。
南金士頓學區學監Kristen Stringfellow表示,設立孔子課堂將可進一步推動該學區中文教學和文化交流。
為慶祝孔子課堂揭牌,羅德島大學孔子學院和馬塔納克小學安排了多項表演,包括馬塔納克小學中文班演唱歌曲“兩隻老虎”,用中文表達祝福與感謝,羅德島大學中國文化俱樂部成員跳“小蘋果”舞,唱“哆來咪“歌,演奏長笛等樂器。
羅德島大學孔子學院當天還精心準備了中國文化體驗活動。在漢辦贊助設立的多媒體文化體驗中心之外,現場還設置了書法、剪紙、摺紙、筷子遊戲等4個文化體驗點。
出席的小朋友有的在多媒體文化體驗中心內觀看中國動畫《大鬧天宮》,有的跟隨羅德島大學中文科學生志工演練交互式多媒體應用,畫京劇臉譜,藉由聲音、圖像,一窺豐富多彩的中國文化天地。
            羅德島大學孔子學院的周靂表示,該院在羅德島州長期致力傳播中國語言文化,積極深入當地數十所中小學開展教學活動,籌建孔子課堂更是重要目標之一。

圖片說明:

            羅德島大學孔子學院院長何文潮博士致開幕詞。(圖由URI孔子學院提供)

            馬塔納克小學中文班演唱歌曲“兩隻老虎”。(圖由URI孔子學院提供)

            中國文化體驗活動中的書法展示攤位。(圖由URI孔子學院提供)

CITY OF BOSTON PURCHASES TWO LARGE SCALE TRUCK MOUNTED SNOW BLOWERS TO PREPARE FOR WINTER

CITY OF BOSTON PURCHASES TWO LARGE SCALE TRUCK MOUNTED SNOW BLOWERS TO PREPARE FOR WINTER

Inline image 1
A snow blower similar to the new snow blowers purchased by the Public Works Department 

BOSTON - Monday, June 22, 2015 - The Boston Public Works Department (PWD) today announced the purchase of two large scale truck mounted snow blowers to more efficiently clear Boston's streets during periods of heavy snow fall. This past winter, over 1 billion cubic square feet of snow fell in Boston, setting a new record of over 108 inches of snow. The City rented similar snow blowers during snow removal efforts, but did not own the equipment.  

After a Request for Proposal (RFP) was released in May, two bids were submitted. Woodco Machinery, Inc., from Woburn, was the only bidder to meet the City's specs. The two L90 Volvo loaders with LaRue D55 blowers, which together create the entire machine, cost $645,000 and will take approximately 90 days to build.  

The two new pieces of equipment have the ability to 2,750 tons of snow per hour with a casting distance up to 150 feet. The blowers will be mounted on 4-wheel front-loaders from Volvo Construction Equipment, with tires over 4 feet in diameter. Large dump trucks, with capacities about 10 to 16 cubic yards, can move along with the blowers, catch snow and cart it to disposal sites. 

Simultaneously, PWD is currently working on compiling its 15 snow contracting RFPs, and may ask the awardees to provide similar large scale snow blowers to supplement these new purchases, however it will not be mandatory. 

PWD plowed 295,000 miles of roadway this past winter—roughly 12 trips around the earth - removed over 40,000 truckloads of snow from city streets, and melted 50,000 tons of snow at snow farms.

Montreal used similar equipment to battle recent snow storms. To view, click here.  

Malden Incorporates a New Tradition into July 4th Festivities

Malden Incorporates a New Tradition into July 4th Festivities

Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Please join Mayor Gary Christenson for the commencement of a new Malden tradition to kick off the City’s July 4th festivities. The reading of the May 27, 1776 document that contains the “Instructions of the Inhabitants of Malden, Massachusetts to their Representatives in Congress” will be read on the lawn of the Malden Public Library on Friday, July 3rd at 5:30 PM rain or shine. Local Historian and period actor Tom Coots will perform the reenactment. The document was recently rediscovered when the Mayor was searching for a historic Malden relic to display at the State House. William Fowler, a former Malden resident and distinguished Professor of History at Northeastern University will be an invited special guest. Mr. Fowler is a published author on American History and wrote an article published in the Boston Globe on July 4th, 2001 titled “For the Real Birthplace of the Revolution, Look to Malden.”
The 1776 document was unanimously voted on by the townspeople of Malden to be delivered to the Second Continental Congress via their representative Ezra Sargeant. In the document, the voting citizens of Malden renounce the Colony’s ties to the Kingdom of Great Britain and set forth their wish to become an independent “American” republic.The document closes with the following powerful words:
“…and we now instruct you, sir (Ezra Sargeant), to give them (the Continental Congress) the strongest assurance that, if they should declare America to be a free and independent republic, your constituents will support and defend the measure, to the last drop of their blood, and the last farthing of their treasure.”
This document is credited as a precursor to the Declaration of Independence written in July of 1776 when the Continental Congress formally declared their independence from England.