麻州將重審Pre-K-12學校財務 指派Kristen Smidy與Amy O’Leary出任基金預算審查委員會委員

    (Boston Orange編譯) 麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）宣佈2027會計年度重啟基金預算審查委員會（Foundation Budget Review Commission），並指派Kristen Smidy與Amy O’Leary出任委員，檢討「第70章」（Chapter 70）教育經費的現行分配公式，讓學前至12年級（Pre-K-12）學校的財務更健全。

    奚莉州長表示，她上任以來已把K-12年級學校的經費增加了一倍，並大幅增加鄉村學校、交通與特殊教育經費，如今要重新檢視經費公式，是為確保符合當前學生與社區需求。她說，Kristen Smidy了解西麻州學校的挑戰，Amy O’Leary畢生致力為幼兒拓展學習機會，她們兩人的經驗極具價值。

    副州長Kim Driscoll指出，每個社區的辦學需求不同，教育經費的分配必須反映這些差異。她認為兩位委員和學生、教育工作者、家庭及社區有數十年直接合作經驗，他們的看法能幫助麻州確保審查出各地學校實際情況。

    教育廳長Steve Zrike表示，他曾任督學，深知經費公式對學區決策的影響，他期待與兩名委員一起檢視公式，讓經費更能支持學校及幼教系統。

    Kristen Smidy曾任教師、校長及督學，在西麻州教育界服務近20年，目前是基礎與中等教育委員會委員，並擔任新英格蘭學校與學院協會（NEASC）公立學校委員會認證與學校改善副主任，此前擔任蓋特威地區學區督學近五年。

    Amy O’Leary是麻州非營利組織「兒童策略」（Strategies for Children）執行董事，致力推動幼教改革，曾擔任「全民幼教運動」主任，並服務於幼教與照護諮詢委員會。加入該組織前，她在波士頓艾利斯早期學習中心擔任幼教教師與計畫主任。

    委員會中的政府成員包括茲里克、中小學教育廳長佩德羅·馬丁尼茲（Pedro Martinez）、幼教廳長艾美·柯蕭（Amy Kershaw）、預算助理廳長克里斯多福·馬里諾（Christopher Marino）、稅務廳地方服務處資深副廳長尚恩·克羅寧（Sean Cronin）及鄉村事務主任安·戈比（Anne Gobi）。

Governor Healey Appoints Leaders in Western MA K-12 Education, Universal Pre-k to Foundation Budget Review Commission

Kristen Smidy and Amy O’Leary to serve as Governor appointees

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey has appointed Kristen Smidy and Amy O’Leary to the Foundation Budget Review Commission. The fiscal year 2027 budget reconvenes this Commission to review the Chapter 70 formula and strengthen Pre-K-12 school financing.   

Smidy is a former teacher, principal and superintendent with nearly 20 years of experience as an educator in Western Massachusetts. O’Leary brings more than two decades of experience as a preschool teacher, early education program director and nationally recognized leader in early childhood education.  

 “Since taking office, we’ve doubled K-12 funding and significantly increased rural school, transportation and special education funding. Now, we’re taking a fresh look at the school funding formula to make sure it is meeting the needs of students and communities today,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Kristen Smidy understands firsthand the challenges facing schools in Western Massachusetts, and Amy O’Leary has spent her career expanding opportunities for our youngest learners. Their experience will be invaluable as we work to make sure every student in Massachusetts has access to a great education.”  

“Every community has different needs when it comes to supporting its schools, and those differences need to be reflected in how we approach education funding,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Kristen and Amy bring decades of experience working directly with students, educators, families and communities. Their perspectives will help us make sure this review reflects what schools are actually experiencing on the ground, from Western Massachusetts to communities across the state.”  

“As a former superintendent, I know firsthand how important the school funding formula is to the decisions districts make every day on behalf of their students and educators,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “Kristen and Amy bring deep experience from across our education system and understand how decisions about funding translate into classrooms and programs. I look forward to working alongside them as we take a thoughtful look at how the formula can best support our schools and early education mixed delivery system.”  

Smidy currently serves on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as an appointee of Governor Healey. She currently serves as the Associate Director for Accreditation and School Improvement on the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Public Schools after almost five years as superintendent for the Gateway Regional School District in Huntington, Massachusetts. She previously served as the principal of Hampshire Regional High School and began her career as a 6^th and 7^th grade social studies teacher at Duggan Middle School in Springfield. Smidy has served on the Legislative Committee for the Massachusetts School Superintendents, the Connecticut Valley Superintendent Roundtable Executive Board, and the Massachusetts Inclusive Higher Education task force.  

“I’m looking forward to working with the Commission and bringing my experiencing managing rural school budgets to the table. This is a long-awaited opportunity to take a hard look at where the formula works, where it doesn’t, and work together to build something that actually makes sense for communities across the Commonwealth,” said Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Member Kristen Smidy.  

O'Leary is the Executive Director of Strategies for Children, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization that leads the way towards meaningful change in early childhood systems across Massachusetts. She has held numerous leadership roles, including Director of the Early Education for All Campaign and is the host of The 9:30 Call, a daily statewide gathering that connects and informs the early childhood community. O’Leary also serves on the Advisory Council on Early Education and Care and the Early Education and Care Workforce Council. Before joining Strategies for Children, she worked as a preschool teacher and program director at Ellis Early Learning in Boston's South End. O'Leary was elected twice to the Governing Board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  

“I grateful to Governor Healey and honored to serve on the Foundation Budget Review Commission and contribute to a conversation that is fundamental to the future of education in Massachusetts. The Healey-Driscoll Administration’s continued focus on innovative ways of breaking down silos and strengthening connections and partnerships across the education continuum will ensure that our approach to education funding reflects the real costs of providing high-quality learning and support for children, families, educators, and schools. I look forward to bringing an early childhood perspective and my experience to this work and to collaborating with colleagues across education, government, business, and local communities to ensure that the foundation budget reflects what it truly takes to provide every child with the opportunity to thrive—from the earliest years through graduation,” said Amy O’Leary.  

The Healey-Driscoll administration’s members on the Commission include Secretary of Education Steve Zrike, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw, Assistant Secretary for Budget Christopher Marino, Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin and Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi.  

TAAF 和 AAJC 宣佈合作 將攜手為50團體提供因應反亞裔仇恨犯罪能力

        （Boston Orange編譯）亞裔基金會（The Asian American Foundation, TAAF）與亞裔促進正義會（Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC）9月17日在華府（D.C.）宣佈合作，由TAAF資助AAJC，為「安全國家網路」（Safety National Network）旗下近50個團體提供培訓與技術支援，提升因應反亞裔仇恨的能力。

        AAJC 將憑藉長期處理民權案件的經驗，為各地組織提供仇恨事件的即時應變指南與轉介培訓，定期分析仇恨趨勢與聯邦政策，並針對個案處置、社群教育、公關及民權問題提供一對一支援。

        TAAF 執行長陳國禎（Norman Chen）與 AAJC 總裁暨執行董事楊約翰（John C. Yang）指出，直接服務社區的基層組織常需在第一時間處理危機，急需長期資源支援。TAAF 在 2021 年疫情高峰期成立的「安全國家網路」，旨在提供緊急救助與保護，並強化追蹤應變與預防，從 2023 年以來，已在 14 個都會區服務逾 10 萬名民眾。雖然社會大眾對反亞裔仇恨事件的關注在疫情後有所減退，但亞裔社群仍持續遭受仇恨與歧視，且除了傳統的種族偏見外，近期更受到反移民以及針對南亞裔言論升溫的影響。

        TAAF 的 2026 年「STAATUS 指數」顯示，逾 20% 的亞裔及太平洋島民在過去一年中曾遭遇種族騷擾；AAJC 分析 FBI 數據也顯示，2025 年反亞裔仇恨犯罪率仍高達疫情前的 2.5 倍以上，顯示目前亞裔面臨的威脅依然嚴峻。兩機構盼藉此合作，為全美亞裔建構更完善的安全防護網。

The Asian American Foundation and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC Announce New Partnership to Strengthen Community Safety

Collaboration will equip nearly 50 organizations in TAAF’s Safety National Network with training, resources, and technical assistance to more effectively respond to anti-Asian hate, discrimination, violence, and profiling.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC) announced a new partnership to bolster the capacity of nearly 50 organizations in TAAF’s Safety National Network, a coalition of leading national, regional, and local groups responding to anti-Asian hate, violence, discrimination, and profiling.

Through a grant from TAAF, Advancing Justice – AAJC will provide organizations in the network with training and technical assistance to strengthen their ability to respond to hate incidents and emerging threats. Drawing on Advancing Justice – AAJC’s civil rights expertise, the collaboration will also ensure TAAF’s partners have the resources needed to navigate long-term challenges as historic patterns of anti-Asian prejudice and scapegoating continue to impact Asian American communities.

“As we mark five years since the creation of TAAF’s Safety National Network, we remain committed to investing in the frontline organizations that are providing direct services and critical resources to communities across the country,” said Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF. “The alarming rise in anti-Asian rhetoric and incidents in recent months, paired with the findings of TAAF’s State of AAPIs research on the safety of Asian Americans in key cities, underscore the need to bring new resources and support to our partners on the ground.”

“Community organizations are at the front lines when it comes to helping people who experience hate or discrimination, and they need the tools and support to respond effectively,” said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC. “This partnership with TAAF will help us strengthen the capacity of trusted organizations across the country to better respond in the immediate aftermath of an incident and build the knowledge and infrastructure necessary to protect our communities for the long term.”

As part of the partnership, Advancing Justice – AAJC will provide organizations in TAAF’s Safety National Network with:

Practical guidance for local organizations responding immediately after an incident of hate, violence, profiling, or discrimination;

Tailored trainings on how organizations can connect community members to appropriate support;

Updates and analysis on anti-Asian hate trends, emerging risks, and federal policy developments; and

One-on-one support for incident response, community education, communications, civil rights concerns, and referrals.

TAAF launched the Safety National Network in 2021 to deploy emergency relief to victims of anti-Asian hate incidents at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to improve incident tracking, protection, response, and prevention measures. Since 2023, members of the network have served over 100,000 community members across 14 metropolitan areas. 

But while public focus on anti-Asian hate incidents has faded since the pandemic, Asian American communities continue to face hate and discrimination, fueled not only by anti-Asian bias but also by escalating anti-immigrant and targeted anti-South Asian rhetoric. According to TAAF’s 2026 STAATUS Index, over 1 in 5 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders reported being insulted or harassed because of their race in the past year. And per Advancing Justice – AAJC’s recent analysis of the FBI's Hate Crime Statistics, anti-Asian hate crimes in 2025 remained elevated more than 2 ½ times more than before the pandemic.

GBCCA文協慶70週年 喜見代代傳承 賀扯鈴隊奪全美冠軍

大波士頓區中華文化協會（GBCCA）2屆幹部。（文協提供）
右起談繼欣，湯耀武，趙寧，梅靜蘭，葛幼梅，陳瑞虹，吳德惠，徐宗玲，李翠蘭，
黃田瑜，蘇錫民，吳宇懷，李茜，陳韻潔等人。（文協提供，張昀）

  （Boston Orange周菊子麻州報導）大波士頓區中華文化協會（GBCCA）9月12日在傅萊明罕酒店（Framingham Hotel）暨會議中心慶祝70週年，350多人共聚一堂，寒暄敘舊，向先驅、耆老致敬，聽法官陳遠芳分享，藉會刊宣佈將設1萬元迷你獎助金，支持創新的社區項目。

文協董事長葛幼梅（中）和會長吳德惠（左），以及蘇錫民齊切蛋糕。（文協提供，張昀）

杜甫的詩句曾說，人生七十古來稀。在大波士頓，除了傳統僑社的中華公所，洪門致公堂，安良工商會，紐英崙婦女新運會，中華廣教學校，各個姓氏公所這些機構外，超過70歲的還真是不多。

沈維新（左二），何毓琦 、胡小非夫婦（前右三、四）和熊元俊（前右一），以及
不在圖中的羅芬，都是年逾 90 的文協資深會員。（文協提供，張昀）

70年前，文協是由幾個家庭攜手創辦的，很多人還記得已辭世的李瑞駿和趙鍾英夫婦，阮郇標 陳詒夫婦。就像文協現任會長吳德惠在致歡迎詞中說的，要向1956年創立以來的先驅們，歷任會長、幹部、志工，以及每一位薪火相傳的夥伴們致敬，因為沒有這些人的努力與堅持，文協這個大家庭不會茁壯、傳承至今。

    為了紀念70週年，文協找出了共63名歷任會長名單，從1957年的阮郇標到2026年的吳德惠，印在週年慶刊上，讓長期參與文協活動的人，看著那些名字，勾起許多回憶。

文協70週年慶由陳裕逢率領金龍進場。（文協提供，張昀）

    尤其是當年在大波士頓大名鼎鼎，和西人法餐名廚Julia Child並比爭輝，都被美國郵政局印在郵票上的Joyce Chen（廖家艾），居然早在1960年時，也曾當過文協會長，更是讓人驚覺，文協一直是大波士頓華人社區中最臥虎藏龍的組織。

文協會長吳德惠（右）邀去年升任麻州最高法院法官的陳遠芳做70週年慶嘉賓。
（周菊子攝）

董事談繼欣（後左二）招呼麻州最高法院法官陳遠方（前左三），以及
麻州眾議員馬惠美（前右二）等嘉賓。（周菊子攝）

    吳德惠會長為了向文協過去這70年致敬，還和團隊成員一起翻天覆地的搜集資料，製作了一段幻燈片簡報，來述說「文協的故事」，帶出席者回味該會從1956年成立，1993年集資購屋，花了許多時間籌款，募捐，才終於在牛頓市買下2層高的一整棟華人中心，陸續有趙鍾英等幾個家庭創辦家庭夏令營，葛幼梅等人經營青少年中文夏令營，陳瑞虹創辦華心中文學校，潘台春和歐陽東美創立國樂團，龍俐麗創辦，湯耀武和薛正璇落力經營雲鶴社，王麗文長年指揮合唱團，成立知音舞團，吳萍萍和楊哲修負責卡拉OK社，文協每年參加《波士頓第一夜》大遊行，推出過生肖花燈，扯鈴隊贏得2026美國全國扯鈴比賽公開組團體冠軍等，各式各樣的點點滴滴，都讓人看到文協的龐大與內容豐富。

9月12日這天，由文協第二代的李波平和謝雲哲擔任司儀，即將舉家遷往他州的陳裕逢，以教練身份，率領嚴曉敏領隊的文協巾幗舞龍隊金龍出場舞動，為文協70週年慶拉開序幕。

司儀李波平（右）是李瑞駿和趙鍾英的兒子，和從高中起就擔任文協志工，助教雨老師
的謝雲哲（左），邀請第三代的孩子們上台抽出幸運中獎者。
會長吳德惠的孫子周承信（前）熱心效勞。（周菊子攝）

    應邀到會的嘉賓有麻州最高法院法官陳遠芳 (Gloria Tan)，麻州眾議員馬惠美（Amy Mah Sangiolo）。

大波士頓文協國樂團已交由創辦古箏樂團的楊信宜（左）擔任團長。（周菊子攝）

    吳德惠會長致詞時先說，很榮幸的，這天有26名歷任會長能夠撥冗出席，一起慶祝，為文協的70週年慶這里程碑平添更豐富意義，再請場中出席眾人依年齡站隊，從90歲到20歲以下，讓人見到文協每一個年齡層，有如大家庭一般的濟濟一堂，更期許後人傳承文協精神，邁向另一個輝煌70年。

其中年逾90的何毓琦 、胡小非夫婦，以及沈維新，熊元俊和即將90歲的談善明等長者出席在座，最是教人覺得文協也已經歷史悠久。

劉瑋珊（左起）、朱惠元，張建宇，汪榮華演出三段京劇。（周菊子攝）

    阮郇標醫生的兒子Robin Yuan當天也出席了，還捐出五本他親筆簽名，關於他外祖父戴琛生平事蹟的著作「紅衣主教（Red Bishops）」 ，作大會摸彩獎品。

武安武術團演出舞獅。（周菊子攝）

    陳遠芳法官是台灣移民後代，在德州長大，因為身為少數族裔，曾面對過許多偏見與種族歧視，又受華人埋頭苦幹的傳統影響，在校力求學業優異，出校只盼平穩度日，直到有天有人很認真的“推”了她一把，才讓她從律師成為了法官。為此她鼓勵那些已有成就者，要提攜後進，傳承經驗的為年輕人鋪路，更提醒後輩，要有智慧，懂得平衡“等待機會”和“不讓任何一個機會從身邊擦肩而過”。

        陳遠芳看到文協成員有如大家庭般的和樂融融，凝聚力極強，笑說她該勸身為台大校友的父母，搬來麻州同住，加入文協這很棒的社區。

武安武術團。（周菊子攝）

王麗文（左四）率知音舞團演出。（周菊子攝）

為了讓文協團員們歡度一日，這場70週年慶安排了很多表演，有章德鄰和林欣怡任教練的武安武術社舞獅，楊信宜的波士頓古箏樂團演奏，扯鈴隊表演，劉瑋珊率領他所創辦京劇社的張建宇，朱惠元，汪榮華表演「蘇三起解」，「遊龍戲鳳」，「謝瑤環」等京劇選段，王麗文率知音舞團跳「醉春風」，合唱團18人唱「原鄉人」，「菊花台」，郭雅志和何濤以管子與二胡合奏「月光愛人」，郭雅志，金薇薇， 林遊嵐，邵婉如，徐宗玲等人合奏葫蘆絲「You Raise Me Up」，吳萍萍, 楊哲修, 劉瑋珊, 李茜, 吳德惠, 柯乃南, 賴超強等人攜手演出薩芝楠編劇，梁雁文導演的「穿越70載」，余嘯渝帶隊跳排舞。最後還有一連13首卡拉ＯＫ。

郭雅志（左起）陪著學生們，徐宗玲，邵婉如，林遊嵐、金薇薇演奏葫蘆絲。（周菊子攝）

大波士頓中華文化協會的現任幹部有董事長葛幼梅，學校委員會陳瑞虹，樓宇委員會湯耀武，執行委員會會長吳德惠，委員薩芝楠，吳宇懷，徐宗玲，陳韻潔。2027年將由李翠蘭接任會長，黃田瑜，李茜，顏曉敏，張涵捷接任執行委員。（訂正版，感謝吳德惠會長和吳萍萍指正）

文協的扯鈴隊贏得2026全美扯鈴公開賽團體組冠軍。（周菊子攝）

文協扯鈴隊表演螢光扯鈴。（周菊子攝）

吳萍萍、楊哲修（前右四、三）負責的文協卡拉OK社隊伍。（周菊子攝）

GBCCA前會長周一男（左二）教授說，前會長談善明（前右二）即將90。（周菊子攝）

文協會長吳德惠（右三起）和薛正璇，湯耀武，以及前會長程中林等人及家人
在文協70週年大海報前留影。（周菊子攝）

胡美惠律師（右三）聽說陳裕逢夫婦（左一）即將遷往他州，趕快找
李小玉醫師夫婦合影，留下紀念。（周菊子攝）

吳宇懷（後右起）、翁卓毅和陳瑞虹（前左起），文協首任會長阮郇標
的兒子Robin，以及林遊嵐（前右）等人同桌暢敘。（周菊子攝）

蕭雲（右）曾任文協會長。（周菊子攝）

龍俐麗（左）創辦了文協麾下的雲鶴社。（周菊子攝）

左起，作家張鳳，北一女校友會創辦人趙小怡，作家王尚勤。（周菊子攝）

左起，李台醫師，周健夫，王麗文夫婦。（周菊子攝）

文協會長吳德惠（右）和1988年會長，年逾80的胡世沛。（周菊子攝）

陳裕逢（中）扮演萬紅叢中一點綠。（周菊子攝）

文協合唱團演出。（吳萍萍提供）

小品「穿越七十載」。（吳萍萍提供）

文協慶70週年，350餘人歡聚一堂。（周菊子攝）

文協太極班合影。（張鳳提供）

波士頓衛生局將於9~12月間在全市各地設巡迴診所 免費為民眾接種疫苗

         (Boston Orange編譯) 波士頓市衛生局（BPHC）今（16）日宣佈，因應秋季呼吸道病毒季到來，9月至12月將巡迴波士頓（Boston）全市多個地點，設立免費診所，民眾不須預約、無保險及身分證件，都可接種流感與COVID-19疫苗，藉以全力降低重症與死亡風險。

        衛生局長奧吉庫圖博士（Dr. Bisola Ojikutu）表示，接種疫苗是預防重症最有效的工具。在上一個流感季中，包括2名波士頓兒童，麻州共有364人死於流感。BPHC使用來自美國救援法案（ARPA）資金和學校及社區中心合作，消除就醫障礙。

        BPHC建議，6個月大以上的人，都應該接種流感疫苗，幼兒、長者、孕婦等高風險人群，該接種COVID-19疫苗。

        為了更貼近民眾需求，BPHC今年還首度推出到府為長者接種服務，另外和麻州港務局（Mass Port）及工會合作，在洛根機場（Logan Airport）為頻繁接觸旅客的高風險第一線員工在工作現場施打疫苗。

        首月巡迴診所時間

9/23 13:30–17:30：BCYF柯蒂斯大廳（BCYF Curtis Hall）
9/24、9/28、10/1 16:00–20:00：BCYF藤街（Vine Street）、巴黎街（Paris Street）、珀金斯（Perkins）
10/7 16:00–20:00：約瑟芬菲奧倫蒂諾社區中心（Josephine Fiorentino Community Center）
10/8 14:00–18:00：BCYF羅斯林代爾（Roslindale）
10/17 11:00–15:00：BCYF海德公園（Hyde Park）

        BPHC提醒民眾生病應留在家中、勤洗手並配戴口罩。有意尋求健保或醫療協助，可致電市長健康專線（Mayor’s Health Line: 617-534-5050），詳情請至 boston.gov/vaccine-clinics 查詢。

AS RESPIRATORY VIRAL ILLNESS SEASON BEGINS, BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION ENSURES ACCESS TO FREE FLU AND COVID-19 VACCINES

BPHC will host free vaccine clinics throughout the city from September to December

BOSTON – Wednesday, September 16, 2026 – To ensure that residents are protected from serious respiratory illness, Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is hosting free vaccine clinics offering flu and COVID-19 vaccinations throughout the city. Getting vaccinated every year for flu and COVID-19 as part of back-to-school and fall routines is an important tool to protect ourselves and our communities from serious illness. 

BPHC is making it easy for residents to get vaccinated as part of their regular routines. By partnering with Boston Public Schools, Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BYCF), Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, labor unions, Mass Port, and community organizations, BPHC will provide vaccines in the places where people live, work and play. By providing easy access to free vaccinations, BPHC is ensuring that residents who may struggle to get vaccinated can do so with fewer barriers.

“Vaccination is the safest and most effective tool we have to reduce the risk of serious illness from respiratory viral illness, like the flu,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston. “By hosting free vaccine clinics where residents already spend much of their time, we are making great strides towards ensuring that vaccines are accessible to all. The evidence-based science behind vaccinations have been keeping us safe for decades, and BPHC will continue to let expert advice guide our work. This commitment allows us to protect our families and keep loved ones safe, particularly during respiratory virus season.”

Flu vaccination is strongly recommended for all individuals ages 6 months and older. Young children, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable to severe illness from the flu and benefit from flu vaccination. During the 2025-2026 flu season, 364 individuals in Massachusetts died from the flu, including two children in Boston.  COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for children between 6 and 23 months, adults 65 and older, healthcare workers, those with medical conditions associated with higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, and those who are immunocompromised, pregnant, or lactating. People who live in households with any of these vulnerable groups are also recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. These vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illnesses and can help prevent residents from needing to take sick days from school or work.

BPHC's vaccine clinics begin in September, as people are adjusting to back-to-school routines and before the peak of respiratory virus season. All clinics will offer free flu and COVID-19 vaccines. No appointment is needed. Insurance and identification are not required, but those with a health insurance card should bring it with them. Residents should check boston.gov/vaccine-clinics for a list of dates and locations. The website also details which vaccines will be available and for what ages. Clinics are currently being scheduled from September through December. 

The dates and locations of our first month of clinics are:

• Wednesday, September 23, from 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. at BCYF Curtis Hall

• Thursday, September 24, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at BCYF Vine Street

• Monday, September 28, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at BCYF Paris Street

• Thursday, October 1, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at BCYF Perkins 

• Wednesday, October 7, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Josephine Fiorentino Community Center

• Thursday, October 8, from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at BCYF Roslindale 

• Saturday, October 17, from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at BCYF Hyde Park

BPHC has been using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the vaccine clinics, but the funding is coming to an end in December. As part of Boston’s Live Long and Well agenda to advance health equity, BPHC’s free vaccine clinics help remove systemic barriers to care by bringing essential preventative health resources directly into impacted communities, regardless of insurance status, cost, and access to primary care providers. To ensure that all Boston residents have equal access to critical resources, BPHC is exploring new, creative and cost-effective strategies to bring vaccinations to communities highly impacted by respiratory illnesses. This year, BPHC, Mass Port, and labor unions have collaborated to launch an initiative offering free, on-site vaccines to Logan Airport employees to increase healthcare accessibility and protect essential workers whose jobs require frequent interaction with large numbers of travelers, putting them at higher risk of illness. BPHC is also offering in-home vaccinations this year to improve vaccine access for older adults who may have difficulty traveling to a clinic or pharmacy.

BPHC’s vaccine clinics are only one of many ways people can get vaccinated. In Massachusetts, these vaccinations are free and available to all who wish to receive them. Boston residents are also encouraged to contact their health care provider, local health center, or pharmacy to schedule appointments, receive vaccinations, or ask questions. Locate additional vaccine resources at vaccinefinder.org. 

Residents who need help applying for health insurance, which is not required for these vaccinations, or finding medical care, can contact the Mayor’s Health Line at (617) 534-5050. The Mayor’s Health Line is a free, confidential, and multilingual service that can help families, regardless of immigration status, find routine care. 

If residents have symptoms of respiratory viral illness, BPHC recommends:

• Stay home, if possible.

• Wear a mask:

o For five days after being sick.

o If you must leave the house while sick.

o If you are at high risk of severe illness.

• Have COVID-19 and flu rapid test kits available at home to test if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or flu. Pharmacies are currently the best place to purchase COVID-19 and flu rapid test kits. 

• Seek treatment from a trusted healthcare provider if you test positive for flu or COVID-19 and are at high risk for severe disease and/or illness.

Residents should also routinely:

• Regularly disinfect and clean high-touch surfaces. 

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Cover your cough.

• Increase indoor ventilation and air circulation; even cracking open a window helps increase airflow.

波士頓市長吳弭指派 EMILY KNIGHT 出任經濟發展長

        （Boston Orange編譯）波士頓市長吳弭（Mayor Michelle Wu）今（16）日宣佈，任命創業育成中心「引擎」（The Engine）現任執行長艾蜜莉·耐特（Emily Knight）為新任經濟發展長（Economic Development Chief），訂10月19日正式上任，將致力推動在地產業發展並將經濟成果擴及全市各區。

        Emily Knight  2017年加入麻省理工學院（MIT）發起的育成機構「引擎」（The Engine），隨後升任總裁兼執行長。在她任職的九年間，該機構成功轉型為硬科技（Tough Tech）重鎮，目前扶植超過150家專注於解決重大挑戰的科學與工程企業，並榮獲《時代雜誌》（TIME）評選為全美頂尖育成中心之一。在此之前，她亦曾任職於Workbar共同工作空間（Workbar coworking spaces），管理營運與產品開發。

        吳弭市長表示，Emily Knight  具備整合人才與資源的傑出能力，能將宏大創意轉化為企業、職缺與持久的經濟成長，同時確保發展紅利惠及每個社區。吳弭同時感謝代理長唐納德·懷特（Interim Chief Donald Wright）過去一段時間的穩定領導。

        Emily Knight  住在羅斯林代爾（Roslindale）、畢業於康奈爾大學（Cornell University）酒店管理學院。她表示，未來將用過去的實務經驗，協助企業在地創業與擴張，讓創新產業創造的就業機會深植波士頓各個角落。

MAYOR MICHELLE WU APPOINTS EMILY KNIGHT AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHIEF

BOSTON - Wednesday, September 16, 2026 - Mayor Michelle today announced the appointment of Emily Knight as the City of Boston’s new Economic Development Chief. Knight will begin serving in the role on October 19, 2026.  A longtime Boston resident, Knight has spent her career at the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development. Most recently, she has served as President and CEO of The Engine, where she shaped the organization’s strategic direction and built partnerships with industry leaders, educational institutions, and public sector partners to help tech companies grow and bring breakthrough technologies to market.  Under Emily's leadership, The Engine strengthened its position as a hub for ‘Tough Tech’—science and engineering focused on solving the world's most difficult and urgent challenges. The organization now supports more than 150 companies and was recently recognized by TIME as one of the country’s top incubators and accelerators.  “We are deeply grateful to Interim Chief Donald Wright for guiding this team and delivering such impact through the opportunities of last summer and beyond, while laying the groundwork for even more ahead,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Emily Knight has spent her career bringing people and institutions together to turn ambitious ideas into companies, jobs, and lasting economic growth. Emily understands what entrepreneurs and businesses need to succeed—and how to ensure that success reaches every neighborhood in our City. I’m thrilled to welcome her to our team and look forward to her leadership to grow our economy, strengthen our communities, and make Boston the best place to build a life and build a business.”  Knight’s appointment underscores the Wu administration’s focus on strengthening Boston’s economic competitiveness while expanding access to the jobs, investment, and opportunities created by Boston’s thriving innovation economy.  “Boston has extraordinary talent, institutions, and ideas, and this role is an incredible opportunity to connect those strengths into economic growth that lasts,” said Emily Knight, Incoming Economic Development Chief for the City of Boston. “I want to help companies start here and grow here, while making sure the jobs and industries they create are felt in every neighborhood across the City. I’m incredibly proud of what we built at The Engine, and I’m ready to bring those nine years of learning to the City I love and call home.”  Knight joined The Engine in 2017 and served in several leadership roles before becoming President and CEO. Prior to that, she managed general operations, strategy, and product development at Workbar coworking spaces. Knight holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, and is a resident of Roslindale.

波士頓僑領黃官羨慶中秋 捐款資助慈善機構

黃官羨歡迎眾人出席，鼓勵各界為社區服務。（周菊子攝）

  （Boston Orange周菊子波士頓綜合報導）波士頓僑領黃官羨日前在華埠帝苑大酒樓舉辦茶會，以捐款資助服務社區的慈善機構及個人這善舉，來慶祝即將於9月25日來到的2026年中秋節。

各機構代表感謝黃官羨（前右二）捐款。（周菊子攝）

高齡已90餘歲的黃官羨，這天神采奕奕，由小兒子黃澤欣陪同，來到佈置成馬蹄形的會場，在簡單隆重的儀式中，把一張張共1萬餘元的支票，交給出席領取捐款的約七，八個機構代表及個人手中。

波士頓台山同鄉聯誼會會長黃紹培（前右三）和台山鄉親們
一起送上牌匾，感謝黃官羨（中）設立黃官羨閱報室。
左起鄺元傑，黃偉建，Ed Flynn，黃官羨，黃紹陪，黃納斯，瑪瑞明。
（周菊子攝）

既是黃氏宗親會元老，也是僑委會波士頓僑務諮詢委員的黃官羨，原本是廣東省台山縣白沙村人，移居波士頓後，憑著努力與精準眼光，他在華盛頓街與必珠街交界一帶，至少擁有4座大樓，其中一棟樓裏有著波士頓華埠一代最著名，廳堂高挑，視野開闊的帝苑大酒樓。黃官羨和數年前辭世的妻子羅文雅還曾經親自經營這座可同時容納上千人的餐廳，和馬英九總統，萬寧諾市長（Tom Menino），吳弭市長（Michelle Wu）等許多政要的合照，即使如今餐館經營者換了人，出於對房東及地方耆老的尊重，這些照片至今仍然掛在餐廳入口處的櫥窗中。

中華公所主席雷國輝（右）向黃官羨（中）介紹新到任的波士頓僑教中心主任康雅雄。
（周菊子攝）

這天應邀出席的嘉賓有波士頓市議員Ed Flynn，波士頓僑教中心主任康雅雄，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓台山同鄉聯誼會會長黃紹培，以及和黃官羨有30多年交情的塔芙茨醫療中心前首席醫師Deeb N. Salem等人，他們在致詞時都稱許黃官羨熱心服務，是社區貴人。

黃官羨（左）由小兒子黃澤欣陪同，出席慶中秋捐款會。（周菊子攝）

中華公所主席雷國輝說，他還記得大約21年前，廣教學校為建校舍籌款，黃官羨慷慨解囊，一出手就10萬元，而這還只是黃官羨造福社區的諸多善行之一而已。華埠的許多社會服務機構都曾收到過黃官羨不求回報的捐贈。

波士頓僑教中心主任康雅雄為他得以受邀參加這活動，感到十分榮幸，直言這是十分有意義的活動。他也藉機代表僑委會感謝僑務諮詢委員黃官羨過去這麼多年來為社區所做的服務，對中華民國台灣的支持。

曾任塔芙茨醫療中心醫師主任的Deeb N. Salem（左）和黃官羨有30多年的交情。
（周菊子攝）

這天擔任司儀的是黃氏公所中文書記黃納斯。依照他的唱名，收到1000元至3000元不等額度捐款的機構及代表，有曾任塔芙茨醫療中心醫師主任的Deeb N. Salem，波士頓市議員愛德華費林（Ed Flynn），紐英崙中華公所，波士頓台山鄉親聯誼會，波士頓亞美會，僑聲音樂劇社，以及各得300元的白沙老人協會和台山白沙僑刊。

部分出席者。（周菊子攝）

據說，原本麻州眾議員麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz）和華美福利會都在捐款名單上，只是當天早上下雨，他們也都沒有派代表出席，捐款就沒送出去。

台山鄉親會長黃紹培這天特地準備了一塊牌匾，一盒月餅，在會上送給黃官羨，稱讚黃官羨閱報室的設立，不但讓台山鄉親們從外地進城時，有了落腳休憩之地，還能相約聚會，喝茶，看報，閒話家常，撫慰了不知多少遊子心情。

部分出席者。（周菊子攝）

麻州長 Healey 將提案追加預算225萬元 擴辦護士到府訪視產後孕婦服務

Photo by Chutze Chou

        （Boston Orange綜合報導）麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）9月15日宣佈，將追加225萬元預算，加強麻州對孕婦產後及心理健康的照顧，擴大辦理護士免費到府訪視，強化專業醫療諮詢與修訂篩檢法規，以提早發現並協助處理孕產婦心理健康問題。

Photo by Chutze Chou

        奚莉州長在貝斯以色列女執事醫療中心(Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)公佈的這新措施，旨在預防重於治療。

Photo by Chutze Chou

        麻州每年約有6.8萬名新生兒，目前公共衛生局（Department of Public Health, DPH）免費且自願性的「歡迎家庭」（Welcome Family）計劃，每年僅約3,000名新生兒使用這服務。奚莉提案撥款200多萬美元，要普及全州的讓所有新手父母都得到專業護士到府訪視的服務。護士將協助新手母親哺育，指導照顧新生嬰兒方法、執行心理健康與物質濫用篩檢，並提供社福轉介與電話追蹤。

        從2025年該計劃實施後，麻州共篩檢1,620人，查出208例產後憂鬱陽性個案，並成功轉介服務。

Photo by Chutze Chou

        心理衛生局（Department of Mental Health, DMH）旗下「麻州兒童精神病學諮詢計劃—媽媽專案」（MCPAP for Moms）將獲25萬美元撥款，用以追蹤全州產後精神病數據、成立臨床教育團隊，並向醫療人員與大眾推廣早期警訊教育，協助醫師即時聯繫專家與進行轉介。

        DPH將更新州法，把篩檢範圍從傳統的產後憂鬱擴大至孕期與產後的焦慮症等全方位心理疾患，並增加婦產科、小兒科及家庭醫師等多重時機點篩檢。

        麻州副州長Kim Driscoll與衛生與人民服務廳廳長馬哈尼亞（Dr. Kiame Mahaniah）強調，這政策旨在讓家長獲得在地支援，銜接麻州政府過往延長 MassHealth 醫療保險至產後12個月及擴大陪產員（doula）服務等政策。

        若民眾需要即時且免費的心理健康支援，可撥打麻州行為健康協助專線：833-773-2445。

Governor Healey Announces New Actions to Strengthen Maternal Mental Health and Postpartum Care 

Actions focus on earlier screening, expanded home visits and stronger connections to care

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today announced new measures to strengthen postpartum care and mental health support for mothers and families across Massachusetts, with a focus on reaching people earlier, making support easier to access and helping providers connect patients to care when they need it.

Governor Healey is proposing $2 million to provide universal access to the Department of Public Health’s Welcome Family home visiting program statewide and $250,000 to strengthen the Department of Mental Health’s Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms, known as MCPAP for Moms. The funding will be included in an upcoming supplemental budget. DPH will also update state regulations to strengthen screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and help providers identify concerns earlier.

“Becoming a mother is a profound life change, and every parent deserves support—not just during pregnancy, but in the months that follow,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Postpartum depression, anxiety and other maternal mental health conditions are real medical conditions, and no mother should feel ashamed to ask for help or feel like she has to navigate this journey alone. We’re working to expand postpartum care, identify concerns earlier and connect families to the mental health support they need, because taking care of moms means taking care of the whole family.” 

“We’re strengthening the system around new parents so that no matter where they turn for care, there’s someone who knows what to look for and how to help,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By expanding home visits, improving screening and giving providers more tools, we can help mothers get connected to the care they need sooner and closer to home.”

“It’s hard to emphasize how crucial the first few months of life are, for a child, a family and for the community. Massachusetts has some of the best maternal health outcomes in the country, but there’s more work to be done to make sure families are connected to the services they need, and feel concretely the supportive love of their community,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Kiame Mahaniah. “Under Governor Healey’s leadership, the Department of Mental Health and Department of Public Health will now be able to expand their reach, help more moms, and make sure every parent knows they are not alone in confronting the many challenges of early parenthood.”

Expanding Postpartum Support at Home

Governor Healey is proposing $2 million to expand Welcome Family, a voluntary and free home visiting program that supports parents and caregivers in the weeks after a baby is born.

Welcome Family currently serves approximately 3,000 births each year. The additional funding would give every parent and caregiver in the postpartum period across the state the opportunity to have a home visit, following Massachusetts’ approximately 68,000 annual births.

Through the program, an experienced maternal and child health nurse visits a family’s home following the birth of a child to check on both the caregiver and baby, answer questions and connect the family with additional support when needed. The service is available regardless of age, income or other eligibility criteria.

During a visit, nurses can help with breastfeeding and newborn care, screen for mental health concerns and substance use, connect families with health care and social supports, and provide referrals for needs including domestic violence, food access and other community resources. Nurses follow up with caregivers by phone two to three weeks later to make sure they were able to connect with services, address barriers and provide additional support.

In 2025, Welcome Family offered 1,620 postpartum depression screenings. Of those, 208 screened positive, and every person who screened positive received a referral to services.

Helping Providers Recognize Concerns Earlier

Governor Healey is also proposing $250,000 to strengthen MCPAP for Moms, a Department of Mental Health program that helps health care providers prevent, identify and treat mental health and substance use concerns during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

MCPAP for Moms gives obstetricians, pediatricians, primary care providers, psychiatrists and other clinicians real-time access to specialists in perinatal mental health, along with care coordination and training.

The additional funding would allow the program to:

• Track postpartum psychosis data across Massachusetts to improve understanding and clinical response;

• Create a clinical education team to help mental health providers recognize and manage perinatal behavioral health concerns; and

• Expand education for mothers, families and providers about the early warning signs of postpartum psychosis and when to seek help.

The goal is to make sure providers are better equipped to recognize serious concerns and help mothers get connected to appropriate care as quickly as possible.

Strengthening Screening and Connections to Care

DPH will also take steps to strengthen mental health screening during pregnancy and after a baby is born, so that concerns can be identified earlier and families can get help sooner.

Right now, state regulations are largely focused on postpartum depression. The updated regulations will reflect the broader range of mental health conditions that can affect people during pregnancy and after giving birth, including anxiety and other serious conditions. They will also create more opportunities for screening across different points of care.

This means a mother will have more chances to be asked how she is doing, whether she is seeing her OB-GYN, primary care provider, pediatrician or another health care professional. The goal is to make sure warning signs are not missed and that, when someone is struggling, their provider knows how to connect them with the right care.

DPH will also issue updated guidance to health care providers on what to look for, how to respond when there are concerns and how to connect patients with treatment and support.

The actions announced today also build on Governor Healey’s broader work to improve maternal health and strengthen support for families. Since taking office, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has extended continuous MassHealth coverage through 12 months postpartum, expanded access to doula services, strengthened postpartum mental health screening requirements and supported health care providers through MCPAP for Moms.

Together, these efforts are focused on making sure mothers are supported throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the months that follow, and that families know where to turn when they need help.

If you - or a loved one - is struggling, you can be connected to immediate, free, and confidential mental health support in Massachusetts by contacting the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line at 833-773-2445.

Governor Healey Statement on Trump EPA’s Plan to Allow Carbon Pollution from Dirty Power Plants

Governor Healey Statement on Trump EPA’s Plan to Allow Carbon Pollution from Dirty Power Plants

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today issued a statement on the Trump Administration’s plans to walk away from its duty to regulate pollution from dirty power plants: 

“American families and businesses will pay for President Trump’s reckless failure to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. By giving power plants a free pass to pump industrial carbon pollution into our communities, the EPA will saddle people with the bill for more expensive electricity, respiratory illnesses and climate change-fueled disasters. Nobody wants this, and nobody can afford this. The Trump Administration has lost all credibility on energy. We cannot afford more endless wars driving up our gas prices, blocking homegrown clean energy, and furthering our reliance on dirty coal plants. Massachusetts will continue to stand up for our environment, public health, and clean, affordable energy.”

波士頓市議員Ed Flynn 探望無故被推9旬華婦 再呼籲市警單位以仇恨罪調查

波士頓市議員愛德華費連（Ed Flynn) 探訪受害者容婆。
（擷取自Flynn議員助理提供的視頻）

 （Boston Orange 波士頓報導）波士頓市議員愛德華費連（Ed Flynn）9 月 15日再度發函給市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）及警察局局長Michael Cox，要求警方以「仇恨犯罪（Hate crime）」及侵犯民權罪，調查一名年近90華裔婦女在南端（South End）無故被人推倒在地事件。

容婆敘述無故被推過程。（擷取自Flynn議員助理提供的視頻）

費連（Ed Flynn）議員在事件於9月2日發生，他9月3日發信給市長和警察局長後，9月14日親自上門，探望這位華裔耆英，透過助理盧善柔翻譯，聽她述說事發經過。

費連議員在9月15日再次發給吳弭市長的信中寫到，聽到受害者容婆敘述自己突然被人從背後用力一推，跌倒在地，加害者在推人時還說著類似種族歧視的字句後，他認為這很明顯犯的就是仇恨罪，波士頓市和波士頓警察局必須以這罪名來調查這宗暴力攻擊案。

        他指出，依據聯邦調查局（FBI）標準，仇恨犯罪也是刑事罪，包括全部或部分犯案動機源自對受害者的某一特徵有偏見，進而攻擊和破壞。而仇恨犯罪法令保護因種族，宗教或殘障而受攻擊的族群。在這宗案件中，受害者是一名華裔老婦，而且是無預警的遭遇攻擊。

        根據波士頓警方報告， 2026年9 月 2 日上午 9 點多，一名年近九旬的華裔婦女在西坎頓街（144 West Canton St.）過馬路時，突然有一名陌生人從背後把她推倒在地。所幸兩名年輕女路人及時把她扶了起來，才避免了老婦人躺在路中央可能遭過往車輛輾過的二次傷害。

費連議員表示，針對老人絕對讓人無法接受。他因此要求波士頓警察局和波士頓人權委員會調查這宗案件。