Baker-Polito Administration Announces Economic Development Incentives for 16 Projects

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Economic Development Incentives for 16 Projects

Tax incentives will support the creation and retention of 644 new jobs, and $359 million in private investment

Boston – June 21, 2017 – Today the Commonwealth’s Economic Assistance Coordinating Council (EACC) approved tax incentives through the Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) that will support the expansion of 16 companies. These projects are expected to create 644 new jobs and retain 2,196 existing jobs across Massachusetts, leveraging $359 million in private investment.

“The Economic Development Incentive Program is an important tool for leveraging private investment and creating new job opportunities across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We welcome these firms’ commitment to expanding and investing in their local communities and providing careers for those looking for work.”

“Our administration continues to invest in infrastructure needs, educational opportunities and workforce development programming that support our communities, residents and those companies looking to expand here in Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These awards will support job and economic growth at family owned companies, manufacturers, hospitality providers and more across fifteen communities in Massachusetts.”

“This program supports companies from Braintree to Sturbridge, and from Lenox to Lawrence, catalyzing further growth and development across diverse sectors,”said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “With our local partners, these incentives represent long-term investments in the future of Massachusetts’ economy.”

“These incentives help companies big and small pursue expansion projects, relocate and hire more workers to increase productivity,” said Assistant Secretary of Business Development Nam Pham. “We are eager to partner with our local partners and entrepreneurs to create jobs and build strong businesses.”

Among the 16 projects brought before the EACC, four companies receiving local or state tax incentives this quarter are manufacturers, and four companies are located in Gateway Cities.

Including the projects approved today, the EACC has approved 150 economic development projects since January 2015, including 64 manufacturers and 72 companies in Gateway Cities. These projects will lead to the creation and retention of more than 27,800 jobs, and will leverage more nearly $3.2 billion in private investment.

The EDIP is the Commonwealth’s investment tax credit program for businesses, and is one of the most effective tools helping businesses to grow in Massachusetts. EDIP tax credits and other incentives are available to companies that make qualifying investments in new facilities and create new jobs. The EACC meets on a quarterly basis to review applications. More information about the EDIP is available on the Massachusetts Office of Business Development’s website.

Approved Projects:

Channel Fish Processing Co., Inc. (Braintree) - A family-owned and operated processor of North Atlantic fish plans to purchase a 60,000 square foot cold storage facility and renovate the structure for their processing needs. They will create 32 new jobs, retain 98 existing jobs and make a private investment of $15.3 million. The EACC Board awarded the project $240,000 in state tax credits.

J. Polep Distribution Services (Chicopee) - The company is a full service convenience store distributor operating in all of New England, NY, NJ and PA. They plan a 32,000 square foot expansion that will include a new cold service dock and a new freezer/cooler and will create 77 new jobs, retain 486 jobs and make a private investment of $9 million. The City of Chicopee awarded the project a five-year Tax Increment Financing (TIF) valued at approximately $73,103 and the EACC Board awarded $477,850 in state tax credits.

Valentine and Kebartas, LLC (Lawrence) Valentine and Kebartas provides third-party collection services to public and private sector clients. They plan to make a private investment of $385,250 to lease and fit-out additional space and will create 50 new jobs and retain 143 current employees. The EACC Board awarded the project $250,000 in state tax credits.

Litecontrol Corporation (Plympton) - For 80 years the company has produced commercial lighting in MA.  They plan to expand in their current location by 25,000 square feet and convert it to manufacturing, as well as purchasing and installing new manufacturing equipment.  The company will create 60 new jobs, retain 163 existing positions and making a $4.7 million private investment. The EACC Board has awarded $450,000 in state tax credits.

Publick House Service Corp. (Sturbridge) - The Publick House is a historic inn opened in 1771 with 100 guestrooms. They will build a 21,226 square foot hotel complex on the grounds with a new lobby and parking. The project will create 10 new jobs, retain 87 current positions and making a $6.3 million private investment. The Town of Sturbridge approved a 10 year TIF valued at $188,000 and the EACC Board approved $50,000 in state tax credits.

Local Incentives Only Projects:

Insulet Corporation (Acton) - Insulet is a medical device manufacturer engaged in the development, manufacturing and sale of its proprietary, innovative, easy-to-use insulin infusion system. They plan to acquire and improve a facility in Acton to house their new manufacturing line, clean rooms and office space and will create 250 new jobs and retain 500 existing positions.  The Town of Acton has approved a 20 year TIF valued at $2.8 million.

Fresenius Kabi Compounding, LLC (Canton) - Fresenius Kabi is a global health care company that specializes in lifesaving medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion, and clinical nutrition and selected Canton, MA as the location for a new, state-of-the-art, pharmaceutical compounding facility for their first location in the Commonwealth.  Fresenius Kabi will create 65 new jobs and make an $8.6 million private investment. The Town of Canton has approved a five-year Special Tax Agreement (STA) valued at $265,605.

Chicopee Hospitality, LLC (Chicopee) - Chicopee Hospitality will construct a 49,750 square foot TRU Hotel by Hilton which will have 108 rooms commercial or retail space.  The new hotel will create 30 new jobs and retain an existing 3 jobs. They plan to make a $11.3 million private investment and the Town of Chicopee approved a five-year TIF valued to be $187,756.

GlassTech Boat Service, LLC (Gloucester) - GlassTech Boat Service provides owners of watercraft, large or small, high-quality custom repair and detailing services as well as full engine services for all major brands of marine engines, diesel repair and maintenance.  The company plans to expand and erect a 60' x 120' storage facility onsite and create 3 new jobs and retain the 3 existing jobs.  The private investment is expected to be $550,000 and the City of Gloucester has approved a seven-year TIF valued at $22,749.

CPI Radant Technologies Inc. (Hudson) – The Company is a leading supplier of advanced composite radomes, reflectors and antenna for military and commercial use.  They plan to lease a new facility, make the alterations needed and purchase and install new equipment, creating 30 new jobs, retaining 70 jobs and making a private investment of $5.4 million.  The Town of Hudson has approved a 20 year TIF valued at $671,650.

Morrison’s Home Improvement Specialists, Inc. (Lenox) - Morrison's Home Improvement is a family-owned and operated company established in 1992. They purchased and renovated an abandoned building and turned it into a renovation and remodeling center and will create five new employees and retain 15 while making a private investment of $666,000.  The Town of Lenox approved a five-year TIF valued to be $19,734.

NBCUniversal Media LLC (Needham) - NBCUniversal Media is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.  They are considering the establishment of a world class broadcast and digital media center in Needham.  The project would relocate 375 employees at current facilities in Burlington and Newton to Needham.    The Town of Needham approved a 10 year TIF valued to be over $2 million. 

Cox Engineering Company (Randolph) - Founded in 1914 Cox Engineering is a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of large air handling units, HVAC piping and sheet metal ductwork and will be purchasing and renovating an estimated 70,380 square foot vacant building in Randolph for use as a corporate headquarters and for manufacturing operations. The expansion will create 20 new jobs, retain 140 jobs and make a private investment of $9 million. The Town of Randolph has approved a six-year STA valued at $463,000.

Arland Tool and Manufacturing, Inc. (Sturbridge) – Arland Tool and Manufacturing is a 65 year old contract manufacturer and engineering company, which has expanded into commercial real estate leasing.  They plan to build a 43,000 square foot office building to attract new professional and medical services businesses to town. The company will be making a $4 million investment and the Town of Sturbridge has approved a five-year TIF estimated to be worth $67,000.

Agri-Mark, Inc. (West Springfield) – Agri-Mark is a premier dairy co-operative in the Northeast in business since 1916 and marketing $3.2 billion gallons of fresh milk each year for 1,075 dairy families in New England and New York.  Agri-Mark farmers own the award-winning Cabot brand of cheddar products. The company plans to develop a 15,600 square foot expansion to an existing plant. They will hire 16 new employees and retain 115 current positions while investing over $17 million. The Town of West Springfield approved a five-year TIF estimated to be worth over $240,000.

Armory Business Center, LLC (Worcester) – Amory Business Center plans to construct a new 20,500 square foot. building consisting of 10 suites of between 1,880 and 2,300 square feet for high tech industrial, manufacturing and R&D companies.  The City of Worcester has approved a 20 year TIF valued at over $770,000.

波士頓推出巡迴"小企業一站中心"

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES SMALL BUSINESS CENTER IN MATTAPAN; ANNOUNCES CITYWIDE "MAYOR ON MAIN" SMALL BUSINESS TOUR

Mayor Walsh to launch small business center and visit Main Street districts throughout Boston to deliver Main Streets Awards

BOSTON - Tuesday, June 20, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Office of Economic Development (OED) today launched Boston's Small Business Center in Mattapan, designed to serve as a one-stop neighborhood resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Following a nine-week program in Mattapan, the City of Boston Small Business Center will travel to East Boston and then on to Roxbury to provide resources for small businesses throughout Boston. To celebrate small business owners citywide, Mayor Walsh will also kick-off "Mayor on Main," a three-day event that will highlight Boston's Main Streets (BMS) districts at the end of June. During Mayor on Main, Mayor Walsh will visit small businesses and present the 21st Annual Boston Main Streets Awards, which recognize an outstanding business owner and volunteer from each district.   "Small businesses and their owners are the backbone of our City, representing the character and diversity of our communities," said Mayor Walsh. "All neighborhoods deserve the chance to have a thriving center, and that's why I'm so proud to begin the City's Small Business Center in Mattapan. I am committed to supporting small businesses in each corner of our City, and am thrilled to be able to recognize over 35 owners and volunteers with the Boston Main Streets Awards."   Boston's 40,000 small businesses fuel the City's economy and generate $15 billion in annual revenue, and 170,000 jobs. The Small Business Center will serve as a one-stop neighborhood resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs ready to grow their businesses. In addition, Boston is focused on empowering minority and women-owned businesses. Entrepreneurs of color comprise 32 percent of all Boston businesses, generate $2.7 billion in revenue and employ 32,000 people, while 35 percent of small businesses in Boston are women-owned.   In partnership with more than a dozen leading business service organizations, the City of Boston's Small Business Center will provide high-impact professional training, networking and one-on-one coaching sessions during the first nine-week summer series in Mattapan.   To celebrate the achievement and contributions of small businesses in Boston, on June 28, June 29 and July 1, Mayor Walsh will lead trolleys to 12 Main Streets districts in Boston, and will be joined by representatives of Boston Main Streets foundations and boards, and members of his cabinet. In each district, Mayor Walsh will recognize outstanding business owners and volunteers to celebrate the 21st BMS awards.   "The Boston Main Streets Foundation is proud to stand with Mayor Walsh in creating a city devoted to developing small businesses," said Joel Sklar, President of the Boston Main Streets Foundation. "We are pleased to support the launch of the City of Boston Small Business Center and the Mayor on Main trolley tour and provide investment and opportunity for businesses across the entire city."   Mattapan's Small Business Center and the Mayor on Main visits are a result of Boston's central planning initiatives: Boston's 2016 Citywide Small Business Plan and Imagine Boston 2030, both of which incorporate community feedback to continue building a thriving, equitable City. Boston's Small Business Advisory Council has also worked to prioritize establishing a Small Business Center.  Mayor Walsh's five year small business plan aims to make the small business economy thrive, to enhance neighborhood vibrancy and to foster economic and social inclusion and equity. To accomplish these goals, the Plan proposes policies and programs to foster a high-quality, efficient support system for all small businesses; to develop tools, programs, and policies to address specific gaps in key small business segments that are vital to the city's economic growth; and to enhance opportunities for entrepreneurs of color, immigrants and women to launch and grow small businesses across the city.   In addition to the City of Boston, the Small Business Center is supported by Bank of America, which has provided a $100,000 grant to the Boston Main Streets Foundation over the next two years. The grant supports the launch of the City of Boston Small Business Center and a series of neighborhood recognition events aimed at celebrating economic successes while raising the visibility of local businesses.   "Bank of America is committed to supporting the small businesses and entrepreneurs making Boston such a compelling place for community, commerce, and -- most importantly -- economic mobility for all," said Miceal Chamberlain, Massachusetts President for Bank of America. "We are honored to play a role in advancing the City of Boston's economic-equity agenda to support technical assistance, access to capital and capacity-building for small business owners in our neighborhoods."   As part of Boston's commitment to fostering and empowering small businesses, Mayor Walsh today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with more than 12 business services organizations to provide high-impact trainings to neighborhoods with dense pockets of small businesses. These partners specialize in business operations, legal services, access to capital and strategic planning. Organizations that have signed the MOU include: Center for Women & Enterprise Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) Mattapan Square Main Streets Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) English for New Bostonians Northeastern University School of Law Community Business Clinic Roxbury Innovation Center U.S. Small Business Administration Boston Public Library, Mattapan Branch Commonwealth Kitchen Tech Goes Home Mass Small Business Development Center Mattapan Community Health Center MA Office of Business Development Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Boston Main Streets Foundation About the Office of Economic Development The Mayor's Office of Economic Development aims to promote a healthy environment for businesses of all types and sizes in the City of Boston. The Office of Small Business Development is Boston's front door for small businesses, providing navigation help for permitting and licensing, technical assistance and certification for local, women, minority and veteran owned businesses. For additional information, visit boston.gov.   About Boston Main Streets Boston Main Streets (BMS) provides funding and technical assistant to 20 neighborhood-based Main Streets districts throughout the City of Boston, and has served as a national model for urban areas seeking to revitalize neighborhood commercial districts including Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, Detroit, New Orleans, Seattle and Portland, Oregon. Boston Main Streets continues to empower individuals in the small business sector to have a direct role in the economic health, physical appearance, and development of their own community.

中華廣教學校2017歡送12名畢業生

中華廣教學校董事長陳家驊(前右二)，駐波士頓經文處處長
賴銘琪(左二)頒發畢業證書。左一為校長蔡華潔，右一為學生
事務主任宋成珍。(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 建校已101年的中華廣教學校，6月17日下午在首長嘉賓，僑團代表雲集中，歡送12名學生畢業，以歌舞祝福他們今日以後更上層樓，心懷世界，”展望”未來。

部分出席僑團首長及嘉賓。左起陳裕逢夫婦，經文處長賴銘琪，廣教
董事長陳家驊，校董陳德慈，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，波士頓
僑務委員蔣宗壬，陳文浩，校董蘇李慧敏，鍾曼怡，阮陳金鳳，
陳余寶愛等人。(周菊子攝)

               中華廣教學校去年慶祝百年校慶，今年踏入第101年，有如掀開新篇章，陸續有不少變動。先是校長曾秀芬辭職，校董會董事長蔡倩婷卸任，然後是現任紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊接下董事長重任，華中師範大學中文系畢業，原為教學主任的蔡華潔升校長，學校老師及校董都與前略有不同，漸進的為廣教未來謀發展。

廣教學校董事長陳家驊(左起)，校長蔡華潔和畢業生們。(周菊子攝)

               現有在讀學生334人的中華廣教學校，今年的畢業典禮，由廣教新校長蔡華潔和課餘班暨夏令營主任余紹強擔任司儀，表演節目包括李平老師指導的揚琴班演奏”戰颱風”，”瑤族舞曲”，宋采英指導的唱兒歌，節選”笠翁對韻”，”造飛機”，梁嘉慧編排，舞蹈班演出的”阿美小姑娘”，宋承珍指導的陳麗娜鋼琴獨奏”德布西Arabesque”，梁蓓指導的進階二班同學演唱”明月幾時有”等歌舞表演。

               這場畢業典禮頒發的許多獎項，彰顯了僑界社區對中華廣教學校的關愛，包括品學兼優獎，SAT主題測驗最高得分獎，ISEE最佳表現獎，新英格蘭中文學校協會2016年漢字文化節百字文學節， 2017歌唱比賽，以及至孝篤親，黃氏，李氏，余氏，華埠獅子會等團體發給獎助金，以及紀念蘇曄初先生特別榮譽獎，最高獎等。

廣教學校董事長陳家驊和畢業生代表朱家恩一起切蛋糕。(周菊子攝)

中華廣教學校校董會主席陳家驊，駐波士頓經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，昆士(Josiah Quincy)小學校長司徒玉英當天都在典禮中一一致詞，嘉勉，鼓勵畢業生們，畢業是另一階段學習的開始。

畢業致詞生朱家恩上台後，先普通話，再國語的一番發言，依稀透漏了波士頓華人社區人口結構的變化。清一色廣東人的年代已經過去，從課綱到語言，向主流社會靠攏，已成必然趨勢。

廣教學校學生事務及註冊主任宋成珍指出，自從該校改革課綱後，今年是畢業生人數最多的一屆，共12人，其中7人參加了2016年11月份的SAT2中文考試，6人得700分以上，最高分是朱嘉恩的790分，成績令人欣喜。(圖片已於6/18發表)

波士頓同源會籲各界支持 頒金勳章表揚二戰華裔老兵

波士頓同源會會長譚雯颯(前右一)，副會長陳清(前左一)，與已退休的
美國首名華裔二星少將陳紹章(中)，出席全國會議代表李徐慕蓮(後右
一)，該會共同創辦人李衛新說明波士頓分會行動。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓同源會(CACA)日前在華埠香滿園餐廳舉行小型記者會，請出美國首名華裔二星少將陳紹章(William Chen)，呼籲各界支持已由參眾兩院國會議員同於2017年5月4日提出的”國會金勳章表揚華裔二戰老兵(Chinese American World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act)”法案。

            陳紹章指出，二戰期間，在美華人仍受”排華法案”限制，既不能投票，也不能出庭作證，父母或妻小都無法來美團聚，但他們卻仍然志願或接受徵召從軍。那時候的全美華裔人口不過10萬，卻有大約2萬人上了戰場。這段歷史應該讓美國人記住。

            在菲律賓裔退伍軍人歷經10年爭取，已於去年12月獲得金勳章，日裔的，美國土著的退伍軍人也都拿到金勳章的前例下，華裔退伍軍人當然也應該獲得表揚。

至於為什麼現在是推動通過此法的重要時機，一來是二戰老兵日漸凋零，最年輕的也已年近90，二是美國國會已決定，明年起不再以團體為對象頒發金勳章，三是明年的2018年正好是排華法案廢除的75週年。

            1993年已從陸軍退休，一直住在明尼蘇達州，最近一個多月才搬到波士頓和兒子團聚的陳紹章表示，他和李衛新等人已到華府，拜會過提出此案的參議員譚美達(Tammy Duckworth)，以及眾議員Edward R. Royce。

            根據美國議會規定，這法案要通過，必須得到大約57名聯邦參議員，290多名聯邦眾議員的支持。目前該會已爭取到5名聯邦參議員，43名聯邦眾議員的支持。轄區包括摩頓市，貝爾蒙鎮，近年在國會備受矚目的凱薩琳克拉克(Katherine Clark)已表態支持。

            陳紹章透露，他父親和叔叔都曾在二戰中服務。他父親是駕駛，被陳納德將軍指派為聯絡官，還一度奉命做陳納德的私人代表，前往重慶和中國空軍總部接洽。二戰結束後，陳納德組建航空公司，他父親也跟隨加入。

            波士頓同源會主席譚雯颯，副主席陳清，出席全國會議代表李徐慕蓮，共同創辦人李衛新等人表示，同源會刻正發動各地分會，游說各自所在地的國會議員，爭取支持，以獲得足夠票數，儘早通過此案。(圖片已於6月13日發表)

網協年會 田田交棒 李震宇接任會長 (圖片)

轉載: 楓香波士頓劇社6/24上演"爬藤"

轉載:

话剧《爬藤》本周六首演 社长张川携波士顿剧社诚邀您前来观剧

Author: 张西

6月24日，话剧《爬藤》将在波士顿首演，枫香波士顿剧社社长张川诚邀波士顿关注教育问题的华人前来观看话剧《爬藤》首演。

在话剧《海外剩女》中有出色表现的王晓梅、李照原、高迪、魏晶、张川、单东旭、宁可等继续担任主演；周游、赵萍萍、胡辉、赵斌、郭俐媛等一批新演员的加盟，让本剧充满活力和惊喜

每个华裔家长心中都埋藏着一个爬藤梦。

你以为美国人之间不攀比吗？他们也有妈妈群，也时常谈论名校话题，有的也喜欢炫耀孩子的优秀，但不像中国父母，生活的重心似乎都在这上面。

中国传统文化的望子成龙，过多地把父母生命的重量与希望寄托在孩子身上。你成功了，孩子没成功，你就失败了；你失败了，孩子成功了，你就仍然成功了。

其实父母与孩子谁也代表不了谁。也分不清是谁辜负了谁，又是谁承载着谁。

继《海外剩女》之后，作家张西以波士顿和康州为背景，创作出长篇小说《爬藤》（尚未出版）。它讲述一个望子成龙的简单心愿。两个移民家庭数年的悲欢恩怨情仇，华二代、小留学生以及父辈们在追逐藤校过程中演绎出来的世界观、价值观的碰撞，纠结和融合。而话剧《爬藤》则改编自其中一个篇章。这是每一个华裔家庭都经历过的故事。

敬请欣赏由波士顿剧社倾情演绎，前总政话剧团演员梁雁文导演的话剧《爬藤》！

波士顿的父老乡亲们，6月24日（本周六），不见不散！

文：卉子

网络编辑：赵萍萍

波士顿剧社将首演《爬藤》

Original 2017-03-02 枫香戏剧社 枫香戏剧社

常青藤大学电子工程系女生半夏走到了人生的十字路口：家庭的变故、学业的压力、爱情的匮乏，令她对生命绝望。当她看到因儿子未被藤校录取而拚尽全力向藤校要说法的叶峻峰夫妇；看到为爬藤不惜抛夫弃业而当陪读妈妈的白荷；为孩子能挤入藤校而急功尽利尝试各种办法，内心却不无焦虑的父母们……半夏发出了“到底是人病了，还是这个社会病了？”的质问。在人生的绝境处，半夏遇到了最美好的爱情。为了梦想义无返顾的美国海军陆战队员龙葵，让半夏看到了另一种人生态度。挣脱了“名校”、“成功”的桎梏，半夏选择放飞自己追逐梦想。爱人龙葵虽然最终离去，但半夏在爱里得到了真正的自由……

身为母亲的1.5代移民马蕾说，“中美文化的差异是巨大的，传统文化的望子成龙，过多的把父母生命的重量与希望寄托在孩子身上。你成功了，孩子没成功，你就失败了；你失败了，孩子成功了，你就仍然成功了。其实父母与孩子谁也代表不了谁。”

教育是什么？什么才是好的教育？当北美枫香波士顿剧社以极大的真诚把话剧《爬藤》呈现在您面前时，相信您也一百遍地纠结和无语过。对于华裔来说，这是个漫长而苦苦求证的过程，来吧，2017年6月10日（周六），让我们与《爬藤》剧组一起寻求答案！

在话剧《海外剩女》中有出色表现的王晓梅、李照原、高迪、魏晶、张川、单东旭、宁可、John、应天启等将继续担任主演；而樊青、周游、孙天宵、李绍平、郭俐媛、董国贞、胡辉、亢静、杜英、昭昭、杜翌等新演员的加盟，将带给您更多的惊喜！

编剧兼总导演张西、执行导演梁雁文、艺术顾问荻晓慧在此恭侯各位波士顿父老乡亲前来批评指导！

Safr創辦人因詐騙通緝令被捕

            (Boston Orange)針對婦女安全，創辦了婦女共乘系統”Safr”，現年43歲的Syed Zain Gilani，上週五(16日)中午12:15分左右，在夏利臣街68號的總部辦公室被捕。

            Syed Zain Gilani是因為在維爾京島(Virgin Island)詐騙政府200多萬元被通緝，成為逃犯。根據法院文件，他同意被引渡回維爾京群島受審。

            他的律師Eoin Beirne今(20)日表示，Gilani被捕，和Safr沒有關係。

            維爾京島司法部官員表示，Gilani和另外兩人持續三年，假裝辦理聯邦政府規定必須要做的，諸如駕照等身分證件更新，卻私吞了補助款。“          

麻州總檢察長率聯盟和環保署對抗

AG HEALEY FILES INTERVENTION IN LAWSUIT AGAINST EPA TO SECURE REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND OTHER AIR POLLUTANTSLeads Coalition of States in Filing Motion To Oppose Administrative Stay of Nationwide Standards to Cut Methane Emissions from New Facilities in the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today led a coalition of 14 attorneys general and the City of Chicago infiling a motion in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to intervene in a lawsuit against U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt’s actions to halt regulation of leaks of greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollutants from new sources in the oil and gas industry.

The motion to intervene in the case — Clean Air Council v. Pruitt — is in support of a group of environmental organizations seeking to immediately stop the EPA’s unlawful administrative stay of a rule, finalized in 2016 (the 2016 Rule), that would prevent emissions of thousands of tons of the potent greenhouse gas methane, smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and hazardous air pollutants, including benzene and formaldehyde from facilities constructed after September 2015. Administrator Pruitt announced in April 2017 that the EPA would halt the 2016 Rule, and on June 5 implemented a 90-day administrative stay of the Rule’s key leak detection and repair requirements, along with an order to reconsider aspects of the 2016 Rule, which has been in place for nearly one year.

“While Massachusetts continues to be a leader in addressing the threat of climate change and air pollution that harms our residents, Administrator Pruitt wants to tear down the federal environmental standards we need to protect public health and safety,” AG Healey said. “This action by the EPA will once again benefit powerful fossil fuel interests at the expense of residents and taxpayers, who pay the price in impaired health and foot the bill for the increasing costs of responding to climate change. I am working with my colleagues across the country to take immediate action to defend these critical regulations and ensure that the EPA does not roll back the progress we’ve made to protect our planet.”

Joining AG Healey in today’s motion to intervene are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington along with the City of Chicago.

The 2016 Rule requires oil and gas companies to monitor sources of emissions at well sites and compressor stations constructed after September 2015 in order to detect air pollutant leaks and repair them at regular intervals.

According to testimony filed by scientific experts in the case, during the 90-day term of the administrative stay alone, more than 5,300 tons of methane, 1,475 tons of VOCs, and 56 tons of hazardous air pollutants will be emitted that would otherwise have been prevented had the EPA under Administrator Pruitt not put the brakes on the 2016 Rule.

Administrator Pruitt and the EPA have signaled that they will seek to further stay the 2016 Rule for an additional 27 months. If those further stays are implemented, the experts predict at least 48,000 additional tons of methane, 13,000 tons of VOCs, and over 500 tons of hazardous air pollutants will be emitted that would have been prevented by the Rule.

For years, Massachusetts has played a leading role in the fight to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, including leading a coalition of states, in coordination with numerous environmental groups, in the landmark case of Massachusetts v. EPA. In April 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Massachusetts and concluded that the EPA had authority under existing law to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. 

Massachusetts has been involved for almost five years in support of the issuance and maintenance of the 2016 Rule. In December 2012, Massachusetts, New York, and five other states notified EPA of their intent to file suit, asserting that the EPA had not complied with its mandatory duty under the Clean Air Act’s New Source Performance Standards to determine whether it is appropriate to regulate methane pollution from the oil and gas sector. Several states, including Massachusetts, also submitted comments on the EPA’s technical white papers regarding sources of methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, including fugitive emissions, commented on the EPA’s proposed 2016 Rule, and intervened in litigation to defend the final 2016 Rule. The case is currently pending in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Methane is a particularly powerful agent of climate change; pound-for-pound, methane warms the climate about thirty-four times more than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and on a 20-year timeframe, has about eighty-six times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. According to the EPA, the oil and gas sector is the largest emitter of methane in the U.S., accounting for a third of total U.S. methane emissions.

This case is being led by Melissa A. Hoffer, Chief of AG Healey’s Energy & Environment Bureau, and Assistant Attorney General, Peter C. Mulcahy.

頂大學人系列講座 6/24

 We are proud to present the last but not least of the 2017 Scholar Forum Series cosponsored with Education Division, TECO-Boston and MIT Taiwanese Student Association, June 24, Saturday 2-5pm at MIT Building 4, Room 231.  Three outstanding speakers in three interesting fields are among the feast.  Please markup your calendar.  Hope to see you there.

 Best Regards,

 Ming

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Title:

Nutrition, the modern concern. 營養, 摩登的煩惱.

Abstract:

Over the past century, the opinions of nutrition swung like a pendulum. The information I will present is updated to March 2017.
I bet the internet overwhelms everyone with food advices.  How do we determine which one is believable?

Bio:

Dr. Shiao-Yu Lee is a medical veteran for more than forty years and a retired medical faculty of Harvard Medical School.

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Title: Recent Developments of Digital Humanities in Taiwan and China Biographical Database

題目：台灣數位人文的發展近況與中國歷代人物傳記資料庫

Abstract

The influences of employing digital resources and tools for humanities research grow significantly in recent years in Taiwan. Digital Humanities (DH) is the term for referring to this relatively new trend in the research community. In this brief talk, I will review the background for the current developments of DH in Taiwan, introduce the national plan for DH pedagogy in Taiwan, and present some interesting research DH projects in Taiwan. I will also discuss my work as a Fulbright and TUSA scholar at Harvard. We will see how computing technologies can be used to assist the construction of the China Biographical Database, which in turn is facilitating historical research about Chinese history worldwide. More specifically, we will go through examples of how we can extract information about named entities from historical documents that were written in classical Chinese.

摘要

台灣的人文研究者近幾年積極地運用數位資源與工具在他們的研究工作中。「數位人文」是這一發展趨勢的通稱。在這一簡報之中，我將回顧數位人文近幾年在台灣發展的背景資訊，報告目前國家正在努力推行的數位人文教學計畫，並且介紹一些實際的數位人文研究計畫。此外，我也將說明本次以傅爾布萊特與頂尖大學聯盟交換學人的角色在哈佛大學所參與的工作。我們將會看到哈佛大學的研究團隊如何利用資訊科技建構「中國歷代人物傳記資料庫」。這一個資料庫現在已經用於全世界各地許多關於中國歷史的研究中。比較精確地說，我將會介紹我們如何從以文言文所撰寫的歷史文本中抽取跟人物傳記相關的命名實體名詞。

Speaker Biography

Chao-Lin Liu is a distinguished professor of the National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taiwan, while he also actively participates in the teaching and research activities in the Graduate Institute of Linguistics of NCCU. He received a doctorate in Intelligent Systems from the University of Michigan. In the past many years, he and his colleagues applied and designed computing methods for the analysis of documents about law, business, politics, literature, and history. Those documents were written in English, vernacular Chinese, and classical Chinese. He returns to Harvard as a Fulbright and TUSA scholar between August 2016 and July 2017, after his visit to Harvard as a visiting scholar in 2014. He participates in the China Biographical Database Project, led by Professor Peter K. Bol, for the current visit at Harvard.

講者介紹

劉昭麟是台灣的國立政治大學資訊科學系的特聘教授，他同時也參與語言學研究所的研究和教學工作。他畢業於美國密西根大學，並且獲得人工智慧領域的博士學位。近幾年在政治大學參與法商、政治與文史領域的文本分析工作，包含英文、白話中文與文言中文的語料分析。劉昭麟曾於2014年以訪問學者的身分在哈佛大學參與研究工作。在2016到2017年間，他是以傅爾布萊特和頂尖大學聯盟交換學人的角色，參與哈佛大學「中國歷代人物傳記資料庫」(由包弼德教授領導)的建置工作。

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Title:  A Short history of cartography

看圖史志:由1703舟山地圖到地圖學

從英人John Thornton之English Pilot中的舟山地圖,囘顧120 C.E. Ptolomy's Geographia 到十四世紀的portolan 海圖,大發現時代荷蘭出版的地圙,Mercator 投影法,Waldseemuller 定名新大陸叫 America. 再看180 B.C.E.馬王堆的絹本地形圖,長沙以南到海的河流都正確,最有名的宋代ll37年的禹跡圖,以一百里為方格,江河及海岸線已如真。鄭和航海圖只剩茅元儀的武備志存有部分,已不如歐洲地圖之真確。緯度易測,經度很難,要到l760 Harrison制出Chronometer才有解決。

From 1703 John Thornton's English Pilot's Chusan map,we race back to Ptolomy's Geographia as the beginning of Western mapping, to 14 century's portolans, Dutch map production in the age of discovery, Mercator's projection,Waldseemuller's christening of new world as America. We will look at 180 B.C.E.'s map of Hunan to the south sea, 1137's map of China with its grid system, the remanent of Zheng He's sailing map which was not depicting the true land forms but only as sailing instructions. Ptolomy promoted longitude and latitude but only in 1760 with Harrison's Chronometer was longitude measurement becoming easy.

Sunshine Yuan was born in Shanghai, 1943, B.S. in geology and chemistry, N.T.U., 1971 Ph.D., synthetic chemistry, U.T. Austin,

1971-3,postdoc. MIT, Worked as Chemist at Interx, KS.,Koch isotopes, Kor isotopes, Tracer Technology, Masstrace, Cambridge Isotopes Lab, all in MA.

Retired.