阮氏公所迎新春敬耆老獲蝦畫

阮氏公所三月八日晚在波士頓龍鳳酒樓迎甲午馬年新春，敬宗親社區耆老，四百多人歡聚一堂。

            波士頓阮氏公所今年十分風光，波士頓華埠社區的龍頭僑團中華公所，兩大兄弟會所中的波士頓洪門致公堂，依序選出阮鴻燦，阮偉昌這兩名阮氏宗親掌大旗。阮氏公所主席阮浩鑾，阮謝少珍，以及阮梅掌珠，阮仕芳等阮氏公所宗親在這晚的新春聚會中，都顯得格外高興。

            阮氏公所已有八十多年歷史，是波士頓華埠的資深僑團，不但有波士頓洪門致公堂元老阮全義；曾參與創辦華埠美化會，最近與華美福利會合作推動清潔華埠運動的阮陳金鳳；曾任波士頓學校委員會委員，擔任劍虹體育會教練多年的阮浩鑾等多名宗親，在不同領域發揮影響力，公所主席總以英文主持新春聯歡會，也一直是阮氏公所的特色之一。今年阮氏還首度出現一名女主席阮謝少珍。

            當晚到會的嘉賓很多，麻州眾議員黃子安，麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz)，波士頓市議員吳弭等麻州，波市本地政要外，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長洪慧珠，波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文，也都翩然來到，一一致詞，獻上新春祝福。黃子安和麥家威還一起送上一份表揚狀。

            阮氏公所的自己人，從紐約來的紐約阮氏主席阮家麟，阮偉富，常委阮秀雄等十多名宗親，組成代表團來賀。

            同時具有美國阮氏總公所秘書長（常委）身份的阮家麟，對於和全球網友聯絡，爲阮氏尋根溯源興趣濃厚，特地開設了有關網站www.AA88net.com。

        阮氏宗親中的阮伯疇有“波士頓蝦王”之譽，曾師從齊白石兒子齊良遲，忝為中國書畫家協會一員。儘管現已年逾八旬，這晚也趁高興，匡表了一大幅很有齊派風格的“蝦畫”，送給阮氏公所收藏。

            當晚，凡是年滿65歲的阮氏宗親，都獲邀免費出席，享受公所的敬老之舉。一整晚，宗親，嘉賓輪番上台，輕鬆唱跳，抽中獎品的幸運者，更是歡喜非常。

圖片說明：

           阮伯疇（前右一起）送出一幅齊派風格“蝦畫”給阮氏公所收藏，由阮振強，阮梅掌株等阮氏幹部代表接受。左一為阮氏公所主席阮浩鑾。（林仲芳攝）

            阮氏公所主席阮浩鑾（左）請阮氏宗親，今年的中華公所主席阮鴻燦致詞。（林仲芳攝）

            阮氏公所主席阮浩鑾（左一），阮謝少珍（右一）請嘉賓致詞。右二為中華公所主席阮鴻燦，左二為波士頓市議員吳弭。（林仲芳攝）

            阮氏公所主席阮浩鑾（右起）代表接受麻州眾議員麥家威，黃子安送上的表揚狀。（林仲芳攝）

波市長邀年輕人參與制定預算

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh）昨（十）日啟動前所未有的“參與預算過程（ participatory budgeting process）”活動，將邀請波士頓市內年輕人一起設想，該如何使用一百萬元。

在定名為“青年帶領改變（Youth Lead the Change）”的這活動中，波市府將從即日起至三月底，舉辦七次集會，邀市内年輕人參加，討論如何使用一百萬元市府資金，或上網遞交想法。

波市府將邀請十五至廿五歲的青少年“改變者（change agent）”組成青少年委員會，預定四、五月審核這些構想，六月整理出來，向波市居民報告，再由波市内十五至廿五歲的青少年投票表决。最受年輕人歡迎的， 加起來達到一百萬元的計劃項目，將交給波士頓市長辦公室，批准資助。

馬丁華殊表示，年輕人才有那種脈動，知道什麼最活躍，最令人興奮，對波士頓的未來最重要。

            做為採用直接民主方式製作預算的少數城市之一，波士頓是全美第一個針對青少年實施參與性預算的城市。青年參與及就業局（Department of Youth Engagement & Employment）的Shari Davis將主導這一活動，由波士頓市府出面，邀請了30個青少年組織組成執行委員會，協助設計，監管過程。

            執委會共同主席Teena-Marie Johnson表示，“青年帶領改變”是全美第一個這類活動，對波士頓來說，讓人超興奮。共同主席Will Fan表示，“青年帶領改變”給了青少年力量，教會他們有關預算的知識，也給了他們機會塑造他們處身其中的城市。

            “青年帶領改變”昨（十）日下午在洛士百利托賓（Tobin）社區中心舉行了第一場集會。接著還將在三月十七，十九，廿，廿四，廿五，廿七日，分別在多徹斯特，東波士頓，羅森戴爾（Roslindale），麥特潘（Mattapan），南波士頓等地舉行六場集會。

            查詢詳情，或遞交構想，可上網 boston.citizinvestor.com/。

            參與預算項目（The Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP)）和市民投資者（Citizinvestor）協助波市府辦理“青年帶領改變”活動。

加斯林“ㄧ匙薑” 3/17 晚 MFA見

加斯林糖尿病中心（Joslin）美國亞裔糖尿病研進會 (AADI)的“一匙薑（A Spoonful of Ginger）籌款晚會，今年跨入十週年，將於三月十七日（週一）晚在波士頓美術博物館（MFA）舉行。

“一匙薑（A Spoonful of Ginger）籌款晚會今年由Ann Wong，“常熟餐廳”家族的陳維禮，夏一樹擔任共同主席。會上將表揚AADI創辦人金良城，以及每年大力支持該會的日星公司（Sunstar）。波士頓美術博物館的美國館將有24家餐廳，擺出他們針對身體健康設計的特色菜。其中的波士頓著名大廚包括“麵包烘培店(Flour Bakery)”張安柔（Joanne Chang），“夏棚（Summer Shack)“的Jasper White，以及David Becker，Andy Husbands，Kevin Long等人。

Tufts基金撥款七萬 AADI進昆市辦四季健康系列

加斯林糖尿病中心（Joslin）美國亞裔糖尿病研進會 (AADI) 日前還宣佈喜訊，獲得塔芙茨醫療計劃（ Tufts Health Plan ）基金會撥款 $70,089，資助“一年四季健康生活”系列。

            AADI表示，“一年四季健康生活”系列，是教育亞裔耆英一切有關糖尿病知識，鼓勵他們以適量運動，調節飲食等方式，改善身體健康，預防糖尿病或併發症的活動。

            塔芙茨醫療計劃（ Tufts Health Plan ）基金會為促進60歲以上耆英在身體健康的情況中，增歲延壽，過去五年來一直都在資助老年人健康計劃，主要資助項目包括促進慢性疾病的自我管理，預防，運動，營養以及預防跌倒。今年AADI獲得該會資助。

AADI今年的“一年四季健康生活”系列，以改善昆市亞裔耆英的整體健康和生活質量為長期目標，活動集中在兩方面，分別為提高耆英對糖尿病與其併發症的認識，以及在飲食，運動和藥物治療方面，做實際訓練與教育。AADI還希望能提高患者家人和照顧者對糖尿病的認識。

加斯林糖尿病中心首席科學家兼AADI創辦人金良城指出，AADI 從2000年成立以來，一直在波士頓地區宣傳。今年是他們首次進昆市做為期12個月的教育宣傳，還得到華康家庭護理中心的協助，進展令人高興。

AADI表示，“一年四季健康生活”系列將由該會的專業醫療團隊辦理，成員包括內分泌和認證的糖尿病教育醫療保健專業人士。該會將和昆市華康家庭護理中心(MCHC) 攜手，和昆市三座老人屋的經理與工作人員合作，預定每三個月辦一次教育講座，一年共12場，提供與糖尿病有關的各種知識，培訓，運動建議。

這三座老人屋的住戶，使用語言主要是台山話，廣東話和普通話。華康家庭護理中心工作人員和護士，將每月到這三座樓探訪老人。

民眾可免費參加這些教育講座，查詢可洽華康家庭護理中心，617-479-8880。

華康家庭護理中心得到了麻州公共衛生局政府年度調查記錄滿分

2014年3月10日──Lynn, MA， 麻州公共衛生局對華康家庭護理中心

(Multicultural Home Care) 進行了家庭護理服務機構年度調查。

麻州公共衛生局對家庭護理機構進行定期檢查，以確保其家庭護理服務中心是否遵守州和聯邦法定規則，和提供合格的家庭護理服務。該訪問是以突擊檢查的形式進行。同時進行的檢查內容包括醫療檔案，管理和執行過程，員工檔案，質量數據和收集，以及合同。此外，麻州公共衛生局對患者和員工進行訪問，和對患者和醫療人員進行監管訪問。

華康家庭護理中心 (MCHC)被認為符合質量和遵守法定規則的家庭護理服務機構。華康家庭護理中心的護士長Rebecca Arbouet, MSN-Ed, RNBC, 對此調查結果感到自豪，并指出：“整個華康家庭護理中心的員工對我們所做的工作， 對客人和社區提供高質量的服務而感到自豪。這次調查結果還證明了華康家庭護理中心擁有高度關懷和團隊精神。我為每一位員工的付出感到無比的自豪。”

華康家庭護理中心 (MCHC) 成立于 1995 , 此公司為來自不同背景的患者提供優質的家庭護理服務。由於擁有多元文化和各種語言優勢及高效率的家庭護理服務，所以華康家庭護理中心一直成為首選的家庭護理中心。 華康家庭護理中心服務地區包括Greater Boston, Merrimack Valley, South Shore and North Shore.  如想獲取更多資料, 請瀏覽www.multiculturalhomecare.com. 

《 飛越太平洋》大型集郵展3/6在華府開幕

http://www.aacyf.org/?p=3900

《飞越太平洋》大型集邮展在美国首都华盛顿开展

经过长达3年半的筹备，《飞越太平洋－中美邮件交流》（Pacific Exchange: China & US Mail）大型邮展3月6日在美国首都华盛顿的史密森尼国家邮政博物馆隆重开幕。

自从威廉.H.格罗斯珍邮馆2013年10月22日在史密森尼国家邮政博物馆开馆以来，中国主题成为开馆后的第一个特色邮展，展览的主题为“从集邮看中美关系”。邮展将持续10个月，到明年1月4日结束。

据中美集邮中心魏进发介绍，邮展通过邮件和邮票，从经贸、文化和社区三个方面来体现人性化的中美关系，讲述相关故事，并通过175项展品，集中展示了从19世纪60年代到20世纪70年代处于巨变的中国；探讨华人移民美国（现有四百万美裔华人）的历程。

邮展的内容包括8个组成部分，其中用四个部分表现经贸，其中又分作清代、中华民国、度支部印刷局（即“白纸坊”邮票印刷厂），和中华人民共和国；两个部分表现文化：国际交流，和邮政的联系；两个部分表现社区：华人在美国，以及中国农历新年邮票。其中也有许多珍品的展出，例如著名的文革期间邮票《全国山河一片红》等。

邮展中的“美国国家邮集”收藏了与中美关?S相关的重要邮票和邮件，其中大部分从未被公开展示。邮展网页引用了邓小平的话：“我们两国是隔洋相望的邻居。”

这次邮展的海报，上半部分的龙图来自美国2012年发行的龙年邮票之局部。它恰如其分地反映了美国人心目中对中国作为正在崛起的东方之龙的感受，以及中国人自称为龙的传人的说法。

美国华人公共外促进会会长任向东表示，集邮展是一种优雅的民间交流方式，既可以让美国的集邮爱好者们更好、更直接地鉴赏中国邮票珍品；也让可以让美国民众在方寸邮票之间了解中国。在美中建交35周年之际，这个展览将是一项非常有意义、而且方式新颖、具有独特视角的纪念活动。(AACYF洛杉矶讯)

波市幼兒教育有進展

Early childhood study: BPS K1 program helps close achievement gaps New report released today    A report released today by the Boston Public Schools indicates that students enrolled in the District's free pre-kindergarten (K1) program may be more prepared for success in elementary school than children who enter Kindergarten who do not. BPS currently offers more than 2,300 pre-kindergarten K1 seats. Mayor Martin J. Walsh has pledged a significant expansion of the program, with a $1 million investment to add 100 additional seats next year and a more dramatic increase in the future. In 2013, more than 3,000 families applied for the city's free K1 program. Last week Mayor Walsh and BPS hosted 40 community leaders and educators from Seattle, who are observing the BPS early-education program in an effort to bring Boston's successful model to the west coast. (watch a video of the visit on the BPS YouTube Channel at http://youtu.be/MzU6-vRJ0hU )   The internal BPS study relies on results from the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessment. Among the highlights: Participation in the BPS K1 program closes Kindergarten racial and income achievement gaps as measured by DIBELS: Black and Hispanic/Latino students who participate in BPS K1 outperform white students who do not participate in K1; and Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch who participate in BPS K1 outperform students who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch and who do not participate in BPS K1. Upon entering Kindergarten, students who participated in the BPS K1 program were 50% more likely to be "ready for kindergarten" than students who did not participate, as measured by the benchmark assessment tests offered at the start of the school year. Seventy-six percent of students who participated in BPS K1 programs scored at or above benchmark upon entering Kindergarten, compared to 51 percent of students who did not participate. Only 11 percent of students who participated in BPS K1 programs were "well below benchmark" at the beginning of their Kindergarten school year, compared to 30 percent of students who did not participate in K1. According to the study, the academic improvements were even more dramatic for African-American and Hispanic/Latino students: 80 percent of African-American students who participated in the BPS K1 program reached benchmark levels upon entering Kindergarten, compared to 56 percent of students who did not. 70 percent of Hispanic/Latino students who participated in the BPS K1 program reached benchmark levels upon entering Kindergarten, compared to 39 percent who did not. The study also examined results by socioeconomic and disability status: Among students who qualified for free-or-reduced-price lunch, 71 percent who participated in a BPS K1 program scored at or above benchmark when they entered Kindergarten, compared to 46 percent who did not. Among students who have a disability, 57 percent who participated in a BPS K1 program scored at or above benchmark when they entered Kindergarten, compared to 41 percent who did not. The full study is available at bostonpublicschools.org/reports. Last year, a Harvard study published by the Society for Research in Child Development found the academic gains achieved by students in the BPS early childhood programs are the "largest found to date in evaluations of large-scale public pre-kindergarten programs." Superintendent Search Committee hearings begin   Mayor Walsh and Boston School Committee Chair Michael O'Neill have announced six public hearings hosted by the Superintendent Search Committee as the group prepares to finalize the Superintendent's job description and begins the process of attracting highly qualified candidates. All hearings will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The hearing dates and locations include: March 11 at WGBH in Brighton March 19 at Harbor Middle School in Dorchester March 20 at Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury March 25 at the Dever-McCormack K-8 School in Dorchester March 27 at East Boston High School in East Boston March 31 at Washington Irving Middle School in Roslindale In addition, the Search Committee is working with a series of youth organizations to plan a youth hearing. Details will be finalized in the coming days. Tonight the Superintendent Search Committee discuss the search firm at a public meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Boston Public Schools central office (26 Court Street), in the Edward Winter Chambers. The Search Committee will then recommend a search firm to the Boston School Committee at the March 12 meeting. Did you know? Zoo New England is on the lookout for this year's Zoo Youth Hero. The deadline to nominate a conservation-minded 8 to 18-year-old who loves Franklin Park Zoo and/or Stone Zoo is March 21. One of last year's winners was BPS student Adam Crellin-Sazama, whose love of animals dates back to his earliest visits to Franklin Park Zoo. Adam set a goal of raising $500 to support Zoo New England, in particular Ussuri the Amur leopard - his favorite animal. He dedicated his $10 monthly allowance towards this goal, and he sold hot chocolate and cookies outside his home to raise more money. Adam spoke about his efforts at his school assembly to inspire schoolmates, and he created an informational flyer explaining the impact of fossil fuel on wild habitats and offering tips on how to support conservation organizations including Zoo New England. Not only did Adam reach his $500 goal, he far exceeded it by donating more than $2,000 to date in support of the Zoos' conservation efforts. You can nominate a student for the $1,000 scholarship on the Zoo New England website.    Be sure to read... U.S. Education chief heading to Boston (WBUR) The federal education chief is traveling to Massachusetts for a series of meetings on transformation of underperforming schools, career and technical education and teacher preparation programs. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will visit Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot School in the Boston neighborhood of Roxbury on Tuesday. The school is undergoing a dramatic transformation from one of the lowest performing schools in Massachusetts to an excelling school. Kids, it's time to ride the T to school (Boston Globe opinion) School transportation officials in Boston want to give 4,500 middle-school students a taste of independence and recoup millions of dollars at the same time by replacing yellow school buses with MBTA passes. It's the kind of bold proposal that springs up during tough budget debates. And it's a good idea on both counts. Want a longer school day? Pay up (Boston Globe opinion) So far, we haven't had a frank, freewheeling discussion about how Massachusetts can expand the school day in a way that's educationally effective, affordable in tight budgetary times, and fair for teachers in both traditional and charter schools.