海南航空赞助的麻州大学“孔子学院文化使者”北京之旅圆满结束

海南航空赞助的麻州大学“孔子学院文化使者”北京之旅圆满结束

       

        近日，由孔子学院总部支持、海南航空赞助，麻州大学波士顿孔子学院和中国人民大学共同组织的“孔子学院文化使者”北京之旅圆满结束。

        在为期一周的文化考察中，六名海南航空赞助的“孔子学院文化使者”在麻州大学波士顿孔子学院院长孙柏凤的带领下，首先参观了海南航空公司，同公司员工交流，对中国企业的发展历程和企业文化有了进一步的了解。随后，文化使者们参访了孔子学院总部，参观了中国人民大学，还同留学生一起上了汉语课，参加了汉语水平考试，同大学教师和中国学生进行了深入的交流。文化使者们登上了长城，参观了故宫、天坛等名胜古迹以及中国国家博物馆等，体验了中国茶文化和书法，还参观了北京特色地铁站和798艺术区。几天的行程，一个丰富、立体，古老而又现代的北京，给文化使者们留下了深刻的印象；中西两种文化的对比，更加深了他们要做中美文化交流桥梁的愿望，激励他们用所学的语言和文化为中美两国友好交流做出更大贡献。

        参与此次文化之旅的六名“孔子学院文化使者”均遴选自麻州大学波士顿孔子学院举办的第七届新英格兰地区大学生“汉语桥”中文演讲比赛优胜者。海南航空作为孔子学院的多年合作伙伴，一直致力于支持教育文化事业发展，不仅为文化使者们提供了从波士顿到北京的往返机票，还为他们精心安排了在北京的三天文化考察和四晚住宿。这是孔子学院同海外中资企业合作的新探索，也是海南航空连续第二年支持“孔子学院文化使者”，助力中美文化交流。

        麻州大学波士顿孔子学院的“汉语桥”中文演讲比赛具有多年历史，每年吸引众多参赛者，影响上百所学校，很好地推动了新英格兰地区中文教学的发展。(麻大波士頓分校孔子學院提供)

Resilient Boston addressing racial equility

MAYOR WALSH AND 100 RESILIENT CITIES UNVEIL CITYWIDE RESILIENCE STRATEGY FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING RACIAL EQUITY Comprehensive strategy developed in partnership with 100 Resilient Cities outlines efforts to prepare Boston to confront challenges, ranging from climate change to acts of terrorism

BOSTON - Thursday, July 13, 2017 - Addressing one of Boston's most complex challenges, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today presented Boston's first citywide Resilience Strategy. Boston's Resilience Strategy is focused on ensuring every resident can reach their full potential regardless of their background, and removing the barriers of systemic racism that hinder Bostonians from having access to opportunities. The Strategy was developed as part of the Boston's participation in the 100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) network and has been led by Boston's Chief Resilience Officer (CRO), Dr. Atyia Martin, in addition to extensive community and expert input. At a roundtable discussion at the Thelma D. Burns Building in Roxbury, Mayor Walsh, Chief Resilience Officer Dr. Martin, leaders from 100RC, and other City stakeholders released Resilient Boston: An Equitable and Connected City, which outlines visions and goals, built upon a racial equity framework, to achieve a more resilient Boston. "True resilience requires us to go beyond treating the symptoms of inequality, to changing the structures that produce it," said Mayor Walsh. "To be a strong city, we must learn to understand one another, break down the systemic racism of our history, and advocate for the rights of every Bostonian. We will build a resilient Boston - prepared to confront the many challenges of the 21st century - upon a foundation that protects equal opportunity for everyone." Resilient Boston: An Equitable and Connected City identifies recommended visions and goals, built upon the racial equity framework, to achieve a more resilient Boston. They are: Reflective City, Stronger People: A Boston where our government leads by example to proactively institutionalize racial equity within its programs and policies while encouraging other organizations to do the same; where Bostonians engage with each other to heal and strengthen our connections; and where communities are trained and equipped to support each other and partner with government, businesses, and community organizations in the face of shocks and stresses. Collaborative, Proactive Governance: A Boston that prioritizes community-led processes and community partnerships, where City services are delivered equitably to people and communities, and City government reflects the diverse culture and people it serves. Equitable Economic Opportunity: A Boston in which intergenerational wealth building opportunities are accessible to every Bostonian; no family lives in fear of displacement; and all children benefit from educational opportunities that prepare them for post-secondary education and careers. Connected, Adaptive City: A Boston where all residents are connected to each other and to their city through resilient infrastructure and systems that meet the needs of all families. These connected communities will be prepared for and can adapt to the urgent threat of climate change. City of Boston staff and Dr. Atyia Martin have worked for nearly two years with more than 11,000 Bostonians to develop this comprehensive strategy. The ambitious strategy reflects a cross-collaborative, non-traditional and inclusive approach to developing solutions. Resilient Boston breaks down silos, uses data to inform decision-making, ensures that programs and policies are developed using a racial equity lens, and is an important pillar of Imagine Boston 2030, the first citywide plan in 50 years, which was launched just this week. "The release of Resilient Boston is the culmination of a collaborative, inclusive Citywide process to identify and root out the causes of inequity across our city," said CRO Dr. Atyia Martin. "We have developed a bold and innovative strategy to address systemic racism and plan ahead for the many challenges our City will face in the decades to come. We will work neighborhood by neighborhood to take action to build the resilience of every Bostonian." "We applaud Mayor Walsh, Dr. Martin, and the City of Boston in taking this important step," said Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the City as the vision of this strategy is implemented throughout the city, and creating a model for how cities can tackle the interconnected issues of race and equity along with long-term planning." "Boston's commitment to framing a resilience strategy through efforts to address systemic racism stands out as a revolutionary step in urban planning," said Otis Rolley, 100 Resilient Cities Regional Director for North America. "We're honored to support this comprehensive work as Bostonians reaffirm their commitment to fostering social cohesion, establishing equal opportunity, and protecting justice for everyone." The release of Resilient Boston follows the release of The Blueprint in November 2016, a preliminary framework for how the City of Boston intends to approach removing the barriers of racism that hinder Bostonians from having access to opportunity and support to thrive from childhood to retirement. The Blueprint was accompanied by the launch of ongoing citywide dialogues about racism, in partnership with the Hyams Foundation. In August 2015, Mayor Walsh announced Dr. Martin as the City of Boston's first CRO, a position created to lead resilience efforts to help Boston prepare for, withstand, and bounce back from the "shocks" - catastrophic events like floods, infrastructure failure and acts of terrorism - and "stresses" - slow-moving disasters like persistent racial and economic inequality, lack of affordable housing and unemployment - which are increasingly part of 21stcentury life. A member of the 100RC network since 2014, Boston's resilience-building efforts place a unique focus on social resilience in a city affected by historic and persistent divisions of race and class. View the full report online.  About The Mayor's Office of Resilience and Racial Equity The Mayor's Office of Resilience and Racial Equity leads efforts to help Boston plan for and deal with catastrophes and slow-moving disasters - like persistent racial and economic inequality - that have become part of 21st century life. For more information about the office, please visit our website: https://www.boston.gov/departments/resilience-and-racial-equity. About 100 Resilient Cities-Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) helps cities around the world become more resilient to social, economic, and physical challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. 100RC provides this assistance through: funding for a Chief Resilience Officer in each of our cities who will lead the resilience efforts; resources for drafting a Resilience Strategy; access to private sector, public sector, academic, and NGO resilience tools; and membership in a global network of peer cities to share best practices and challenges. For more information, visit: www.100ResilientCities.org.

波士頓經文處長賴銘琪勉勵紅襪球手林子偉

賴銘琪處長接見紅襪隊我國好手林子偉話家常

  

波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪(左)和紅襪隊球手林子偉(右)。

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪13日接見美國大聯盟紅襪隊我國好手林子偉，稱許其自小聯盟跳升大聯盟以來的優異表現，並期勉發揮臺灣人的韌性，繼續在球場上展現實力與潛力，在大聯盟站穩腳跟，為國爭光。

賴處長向林子偉表示，六月下旬林子偉自2A球隊擢升至大聯盟紅襪隊出賽以來，表現優異，已迅速成為眾所矚目的焦點，引起全國各界及留美僑胞的關注，很多國人都注意觀賽，市面上也已開始販售林子偉背號的球衣，本地僑胞也曾數度提議組團為他加油，希望他繼續努力，不負國人及各界之期望。

賴處長也說，許多球迷及媒體注意到林子偉的球棒底面有一幅中華民國國旗貼紙，每次揮棒出去時都可以明顯看到，部分媒體報導時也將貼紙放大，十分引人注目。賴處長對他的愛國熱誠表示讚許。林子偉表示，此張貼紙是臺籍球隊教練江肇軒所贈。

賴處長並提到駐美國代表處高碩泰大使也熱衷棒球，不僅在學時參加球隊，也曾於2016年9月應邀到波士頓芬威球場為球賽開球，當時係紅襪隊出戰我國好手陳偉殷所屬的馬林魚隊。高大使去年10月的國慶酒會並曾邀請陳偉殷到華府擔任神秘嘉賓。

來自臺灣高雄那瑪夏鄉的林子偉為紅襪隊網羅至美國約五年，賴處長表示可以理解他的思鄉之情，希望未來有機會再邀請他參加本地臺灣社團活動，也品嘗僑界的臺灣小吃，稍慰想家的心情。

此外，持有中華民國駕照的林子偉也希望透過經文處免試換發麻州駕照。賴處長表示，經文處2016年3月與麻州州政府簽訂駕照互換協議後，廣受各界肯定，換發十分踴躍，迄六月底已累計757件。賴處長歡迎林子偉利用空檔來經文處申辦。

根據媒體報導，林子偉於2012年高中畢業後即受聘於紅襪隊旗下之小聯盟球隊，此前曾六度獲選我國國家隊選手，2010年並獲世界青棒錦標賽最有價值球員殊榮，且曾名列2012年美國職棒大聯盟網站前20名國際潛力新秀，實力備受肯定。

陪同林子偉到經文處拜會者為其經紀人林為鼎，林子偉並與賴處長合影留念，也為賴處長簽球紀念。(圖與文:波士頓經文處提供)

波士頓紅襪隊簽下首名西藏球員強巴仁增

         (Boston Orange) 中國人民網7月13日報導，波士頓紅襪隊首次簽下西藏球手。16歲的西藏青少年強巴仁增(Justin Qianbarenzeng)在南京東山外語學校的棒球大聯盟發展中心，和紅襪隊簽下合約。

         7月14日，中國人民日報英文版也報導了這一消息，指出這是西藏自治區首次有球員簽約加盟職業網球隊。

         中國人民網指出，強巴仁增是棒球大聯盟發展中心培養出來，簽約美國職棒的最年輕球手，也是繼許桂源，宮海之後的第三人。

         強巴仁增是2001年出生於西藏自治區墨竹工卡縣一工薪家庭。2007年11月加入北京大成學校棒球隊，才開始隨李偉教練學棒球，2011年他就獲得青少年棒球聯賽鑽石杯最佳投手獎。2015年9月，他考入棒球大聯盟南京發展中心，在多場比賽中表現優異，去年8月還獲得參加中國國家青年棒球隊集訓營資格。2016年12月，他還參加TF Boys，薛之謙，李小璐等人主演的中國首部棒球青春偶像劇”我們的少年時代”的演出。

         棒球大聯盟(MLB)的中國區市場行銷總經理王鵬指出，美國棒球大聯盟從2007年正式進入中國，青少年棒球發展項目也已深入100多所小學，在無錫，常州，南京都設有發展中心。

波士頓紅襪隊今年6月才新簽了5名球手。業餘球探(Amateur Scouting)副董事長 Mike Rikard在7月7日時對外宣佈新鉛球手名單，包括從奧勒岡大學選出來的右投手Jake Thompson，以及也是右投手的Aaron Perry，Andrew Carber，外野手David Durden，Tyler Dearden。這些球手將向灣岸紅襪聯盟報到(Gulf Coast League Red Sox)。

紅襪隊表示，在2017年6月挑選的40名球員中，有32人簽了合約，包括球隊首選前14名，以及22名排名最前的21人。

BCNC Names New Board President Recognizes Selina Chow

BCNC Names New Board President

Recognizes Selina Chow

 

From left Giles Li, Joanna Chow, Selina Chow. (Photo by Ethiopiah Al-Mahdi)

BOSTON, June 28, 2017 – Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) welcomed new Board President, Eugene Mahr 馬以正, at its annual meeting held at the Pao Arts Center. Eugene is the Director of Development, Asia at Boston University and he has served on BCNC’s Board for nine years. Karen Wong, 黃曼紅, Chief Operating Officer of marlo marketing also joined the Board of Directors.

Outgoing Board President, Selina Chow 鍾潔姿, was recognized for her 10 years of dedicated service to BCNC and the community. Joanna Chow, daughter of Selina Chow and a volunteer of BCNC, paid tribute to her mother: "I know it means a lot to my mom to come from a lineage of people, who stood for something bigger than themselves and would do anything for their communities of friends, family, and even perfect strangers,” she said. “BCNC and organizations like it, and the vast community of people who support Chinatown, give people a springboard to their futures and the impacts are lasting in the lives people are able to lead and in the memories of the people they've helped." During her tenure, Selina has brought many friends and networks to BCNC. She was instrumental in increasing the annual banquet revenue by five times in 10 years, opening a new site in Quincy and launching the Pao Arts Center. Selina will stay on the Board as Vice President.

At The annual meeting many staff members were recognized, including Fred Bennet, Assistant Director of the Adult Education Program, who has dedicated 20 years of service to BCNC.

Retired engineer, John Lape, received an award in recognition of his 13 years of volunteer service as a tutor for adult English students. "One of the most rewarding parts of volunteering at BCNC is to see the students become more comfortable and to be able to express themselves in English, to be able to go out and find a job," said John. "One of my students took the test to become a translator in hospitals, and she passed, and she has a job working at the hospital now. That’s a reward for me."

劉曉波7/13辭世 波士頓有悼念活動

波士頓民眾在華埠天安門紀念碑前悼劉曉波。
(羅四鴒提供)

波士頓地區支持劉曉波者，7月13日晚自發聚會，在波士頓林肯街130號聚集，哀悼劉曉波辭世，並轉往華埠公園旁的天安門紀念碑前設靈堂鞠躬致意。
由於籌備匆促，出席人數不多，但誠意十足。

以下為發起悼念通知:

北京时间7月13日五点三十五分，刘晓波先生在沈阳去世，享年61岁。

塞上秋风悲战马，神州落日泣哀鸿。 几时痛饮黄龙酒，横揽江流一奠公。

今晚（7月13日）波士顿華人将自发为刘晓波先生举行悼念会。

时间：7月13日晚6:30-7:30

地点：130 lincoln st，Boston，USA （中国城喜临门对面）

安排：6:30-6:35 默哀

            6:35-7:05请前来悼念的人选读一段刘晓波的文字，或是自由表达对刘晓波先生的悼念。

           7:05-7:15 到波士顿天安门大屠杀纪念碑前敬献花篮

           7:15-7:30 参观刘晓波留美期间读过的书，自由交谈.

自由劉曉波工作組7月13日發表的訃告全文如下:

中國民主轉型運動的先驅劉曉波先生，於公元二零一七年七月十三日，因肝癌被延誤治療而逝世於中國瀋陽，享年六十一歲。劉曉波先生在過去三十餘年中，積極致力於中國的民主轉型事務，為中國人的民主、自由與人權事業，宵衣旰食嘔心瀝血，並因此四度繫獄累計長達十五年。他是當代中國自由與人權運動的代言人，是一座標誌著中國人為自由而不懈奮鬥的豐碑。

劉曉波先生一九五五年十二月廿八日生於中國長春。一九七七年入吉林大學中文系，一九八二年入北京師範大學中文系，一九八八年獲文藝學博士並留校任教，係當代中國第一個文藝學博士。一九八九年，劉曉波參與六四民主運動，被捕入獄，一九九一年一月出獄。一九九五年五月，因起草《六四六週年呼籲書》再次被捕，一九九六年二月獲釋。一九九六年十月，因起草《雙十宣言》三度被捕，一九九九年十月獲釋。入獄間隙在北京從事政論寫作。直至二零零八年十二月因《零八憲章》四度繫獄，被判刑十一年，並在獄中榮膺二零一零年諾貝爾和平獎。

劉曉波先生是一九八零年代中國思想啟蒙運動的先行者。博士在讀期間，劉曉波多次發表文章及公眾演講，從文學進入文化、思想領域，進而至哲學領域。《選擇的對話》、《形而上學的迷霧》等著作，不斷闡發其最徹底的自由思想與對普世價值的追求。其博士論文《審美與人的自由》，使得我們對於自由的理解深入到哲學層次，從而徹底否定共產意識形態及其統治。他在一九八零年代提出政治民主化、經濟自由化，文化多元化的主張，遠超八十年代的思想啟蒙的高度。

劉曉波先生是六四民主運動的親歷者、倖存者。一九八九年四二六社論發表次日，北京當局武裝鎮壓已見端倪之時，劉曉波毅然放棄哥倫比亞大學訪學，孤身飛返危城，立即投入廣場運動之中，並撰寫多封呼籲當局啟動民主改革的公開信，發表《六二絕食宣言》，深獲廣場學生信任。在北京當局出動武裝鎮壓民主運動時，劉曉波於六月四日凌晨與軍方談判，帶領數千大學生自槍口下安全撤離，避免了更大的流血衝突。他自稱是“共產主義末日到來之際的倖存者和見證人”。

劉曉波先生是六四精神的守護者。在六四後萬馬齊喑的日子裏，劉曉波窮十數年之功，孜孜不倦協助天安門母親群體整理資料，撰寫或修改聲明，協調安排諸多事務，呼籲國內外媒體關注天安門母親群體。他是天安門母親群體最忠實可靠的同行者。每年六四他都會以自己的方式紀念這個日子，他在物質及精神上幫助了諸多八九一代。

劉曉波先生是中國自由寫作共同體的組織者。劉曉波二零零三年至二零零七年擔任獨立中文筆會第一、二屆會長，並擔任網刊《民主中國》之主編。在他的感召下，許多年輕的政治異議寫作者加入獨立中文筆會，積極關注在中國大陸寫作者的言論及出版自由。在劉曉波的主持之下，筆會活動重點向海內傾斜，創立了立足於中國大陸的“自由寫作共同體”，並在北京成功舉辦兩屆自由寫作頒獎禮，使得筆會成為舉足輕重的民間組織。

劉曉波先生是中國零八憲章運動的領導者。劉曉波是《零八憲章》的主要的修訂者、組織者，並幾乎為此付出生命代價。《零八憲章》是一份關於未來中國政治的藍圖，一份和平轉型的建設性文本，是以民間為主體構建的憲政共和的集體發聲。劉曉波以自己的人格魅力與影響力，徵集到首批三百餘社會知名人士的簽名。憲章運動立即遭到北京當局的殘酷打壓，劉曉波一身承擔，鋃鐺入獄，從而榮膺諾貝爾和平獎。

劉曉波先生是當代中國最重要的社會活動家和獨立知識分子。他在六四後，承擔了中國政治反對運動的組織化工作。他多次介入人權運動與維權運動，關注獄中政治犯、作家及良心犯家屬，縱橫於體制內外，有意識的構建政治反對的人際網絡。他關心下一代青年作家和異議知識分子，為他們創造良好的發展條件。他放棄了自己的學術研究，以積極干預的姿態，為中國弱勢群體做不平之鳴。

劉曉波先生是當今中文世界最重要的政論家和詩人。在過去的二十餘年裏，劉曉波寫了大量關注中國現實問題的政論文章，他以深厚的政治與哲學功底，鞭辟入裏、振聾發聵地分析當代中國問題之根本所在。他同時亦是一個浪漫奔放的詩人，下筆繡辭，揚手文飛，在文學領域馳騁縱橫。美之追求與人之解放，其理一也。劉曉波已出版的著作有十六部之多。

劉曉波先生是中國民主轉型運動的殉道者。他以一己之力，垂三十年而不輟，百折不撓地踐行著自己的理念與信仰。正如他自己所說，自由不只是言說，而是踐行。自由不昌，則無現代文明可言。他對當代中國的民主化、現代化、文明化進程念茲在茲，有生之日皆其奮鬥之年。因此，劉曉波歷年榮膺全球各國相關獎項如海爾曼人權獎等，達十四項之多，其篳路藍縷承先啟後之功，舉世罕有。

劉曉波先生是中國悲劇中的道義巨人。他認為，“為了所有人都有自私的權利，必須有一個人無私地犧牲。為了爭取到一個消極自由，必須有一種積極抗爭的意志。一個殉難者的出現就會徹底改變一個民族的靈魂。”劉曉波在多年的精神打壓和身體監禁之中，愈加溫和、寬容、謙卑，也使得他的感召力量愈加強大，無遠弗屆。

嗚呼！劉曉波先生之逝，為吾人、吾國之大慟。昊天不吊，折我赤子。河山改色，日月韜光。先生之恙，為系獄所生，吾人當為先生紀其事；先生之萎，為中國而死，吾人當為先生續其志。先生身後之中國，當為先生一哭。

嗟大志之所存，故表節而不忘。臨遺籍以慷慨，布茲文以哀傷。

自由劉曉波工作組

麻州斥資2億元修橋補路

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates 75 Roadway and Bridge Projects Impacting 77 Communities Across Central Massachusetts

$193 million in regional highway investments highlight impact of over $2.8 billion spent on safe and reliable infrastructure across the Commonwealth

(Lieutenant Governor Polito, and MassDOT officials at the Belmont Street Bridge project)

WORCESTER –Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito today joined Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack, Acting Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, and MassDOT officials at a construction project in Worcester to highlight over $193 million invested by the Baker-Polito Administration in Fiscal Year 2017 in 75 roadway and bridge projects benefiting 77 cities and towns throughout central Massachusetts.

In the coming weeks, the Baker-Polito Administration will be visiting MassDOT Highway Districts to highlight the positive regional impacts of over $2.8 billion spent since 2015 on highway construction projects and bridges, pavement, intersection and sidewalk improvements, and bike lanes, while authorizing over $700 million in Chapter 90 local transportation funding for cities and towns.  An additional $30 million has been invested through Complete Streets and Municipal Small Bridge programming to support local transportation planning and community bridges not eligible for federal aid.

Statewide, those investments have paved approximately 2,000 lane miles, enough to cross Massachusetts and back at least 5 times; installed 160 miles of sidewalk, almost encircling the Quabbin Reservoir; and rehabilitated or replaced approximately 80 bridges. Projects include installing new safety equipment, optimizing traffic configuration, lane and intersection widening and promoting reduced congestion.

“The Commonwealth relies on strong infrastructure and safe roads to drive our economy and provide opportunities for our cities and towns,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Since taking office, we have been pleased to invest over $2.8 billion in improving the critical infrastructure that empowers drivers, bikers, pedestrians or those on public transit to get to the places they need to be in communities throughout Massachusetts.”

“We are committed to making the continued key investments in our infrastructure that promote effective transportation options for residents, commuters and visitors throughout Central Massachusetts and the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Polito. “With over $190 million invested in local highway construction projects last year, these upgrades will ensure our residents are able to travel to their homes, offices, businesses, and other opportunities that allow our communities to grow and thrive.”

The event today was held at the project to replace the bridge that carries Belmont Street (Route 9) over I-290 to ensure the structure can continue to safely and efficiently carry traffic. The $10.8 project will also upgrade pedestrian signal equipment, accessibility ramps, crosswalks, and create a bicycle accommodating shoulder on both sides of the bridge structure.

“Our MassDOT crews and contractors are working hard to strengthen and improve our transportation systems across Central Massachusetts and ensure travelers are able to reach the places they need to be,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “Each of our construction projects is important for how they facilitate reliable travel and how they allow individuals and their families to reach destinations in our local communities using their preferred mode of transportation.”

“We are pleased to be investing in our roadways throughout the Central Massachusetts and Worcester region,” said Acting Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “We appreciate the efforts of our work crews to improve our roadways, better connect people throughout the Commonwealth, and help us build stronger, more vibrant communities.”

Notable ongoing projects in the Greater Worcester or District 3 area include:

·       Acton- Carlisle- Westford: The $10.5 million Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Extension Project.

·       Acton – Maynard: The $6.7 million Assabet River Rail Trail Construction Project.

·       Clinton: The $4 million project to reconstruction sections of Water Street.

·       Charlton – Oxford – Upton – Westborough: The $2.4 million to clean and paint five bridges along I-90.

·       Charlton: The $1.9 million project to replace the deck on the bridge that carries Strafford Street over I-90.

·       Fitchburg: The $1.2 million project to make Safe Routes to School improvements at the South Street Elementary School.

·       Framingham: The $5.7 million project to rehabilitate the bridge that carries I-90 over the Foss Reservoir and reconstruct the approach roadways.

·       Grafton – Millbury: The $13.6 million project to resurface and improve a section of I-90 and conduct work such as guardrail and stormwater improvements. 

·       Hudson: The $4.4 million project to replace the bridge that carries Route 85 over the Assabet River and improving the approach roadways.

·       Lancaster: The $5.9 million project to replace the bridge that carries Jackson Road over Route 2

·       Millbury – The $20.4 million to replace the bridge that carries Route 146 over West Main Street, adding acceleration/deceleration lanes, and making intersection improvements.

·       Marlborough – Northborough: The $12.9 million project to resurface and improve a 4.2 mile section of I-290.

·       Medway: The $9.6 million project to reconstruct a section of Route 109.

·       Natick – The $2.75 million project to replace the bridge that carries Marion Street over the MBTA and CSX railroads.

·       Shrewsbury – Boylston – Northborough: The $14 million project to resurface a 6.2 mile section of I-290.

·       Shrewsbury – Northborough – Westborough: The $12 million project to rehabilitate a 6.2 section of Route 9

·       Spencer: The $3.1 million project to rehabilitate Route 9 and install upgrade signals

·       Spencer: The $3.9 million project to resurface and conduct improvement work on a 3.2 section of Route 31.

·       Sterling: The $4.3 million project to made improvements to the intersection of Route 12 and Chocksett Road.

·       Southbridge: The $4.7 million project to reconstruct the bridge that carries Route 131 (Main Street) over Quinebaug River.

·       Sturbridge – Holland: The $15 million project to resurface and conduct drainage improvements along a section of I-84.

·       Sturbridge: The $500,000 project to make safety improvements on Brookfield Road.

·       Wayland: The $1.9 million project to widen, reconstruct, and re-signalize the intersection of Route 27 and Route 30 in Wayland.

·       Weston: The $1.6 million project to repair, clean, and paint seven bridges along I-90.

·       Westborough: The $7.7 million project to make improvements to the section of Route 9 and Lyman Street including adding turning lanes.

·       Worcester: The $14.9 million project to construct the Blackstone Visitor Center as well as a pedestrian pathway and bridge.

·       Worcester – West Boylston: The $22 million project to make improvements to I-190 and repair nine bridges along this roadway.

Statement from Robert A. DeLeo

Statement from Robert A. DeLeo

“Chairman Dempsey is an outstanding individual who has brilliant political and fiscal mind. Moreover, he is a dear friend – we entered the House together - and trusted advisor. I congratulate Chairman Dempsey on this opportunity and I am sure he will be an incredible asset to Mintz Levin.

“Brian was one of the best – if not the best – Chairs of Ways & Means the House has ever had. Through a series of difficult challenges, Chairman Dempsey did a magnificent job. His work on economic development, homeless and local aid is especially notable. He was also a tremendous advocate for his home community of Haverhill. I wish his wife, family and him all the best.

“The process for selection of a new chair has begun, and we will have an announcement at the appropriate time.”