人生一定要有的八個朋友:
推手(Builder)、
支柱(Champion)、
同好(Collaborator)、
夥伴(Companion)、
中介(Connector)、
開心果(Energizer)、
開路者(Mind Opener)、
導師(Navigator)。
chutze@bostonorange.com
*******************
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MAYOR
WALSH, BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION OFFER GUIDANCE ON HOW TO SAFELY
CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
BOSTON
- Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston
Public Health Commission (BPHC) today released guidance on celebrating
Thanksgiving safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, urging residents to stay
home and spend the day with people in their own household. Health officials
have advised that traditional Thanksgiving gatherings with family and
friends can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19.
"Thanksgiving
is normally a time when many families travel long distances to celebrate
together. We know these aren't normal times, so we're asking everyone to
take the necessary steps to prevent the further transmission of COVID-19 as
we enter a critical period in this pandemic," said Mayor Walsh.
"We can keep the spirit of thankfulness alive without putting yourself
and your loved ones at risk. As always, I want to thank Bostonians for
their cooperation during this difficult year."
Residents
who may have COVID-19, are not feeling well, or have been exposed to the
virus should stay home and not host or participate in any in-person
gatherings. Residents who are at an increased risk of severe illness from
COVID-19, such as older adults or those with certain medical conditions,
should also not take part in any in-person gatherings.
If you are planning on hosting or attending a Thanksgiving
gathering:
Keep it small and limit the
number of guests. In Boston, indoor gatherings should be 10 people or
less.
Ask guests to wear a mask
unless eating and drinking, and stay 6 feet apart when possible.
Clean and disinfect frequently
touched surfaces and items between use.
Ask guests to avoid going in
and out of areas where food is being prepared and handled, like the
kitchen.
Do not share food, drink, or
any utensils.
Have guests bring their own
food and drink.
Avoid any self-serve food or
drink options, such as buffets, potlucks, or drink stations.
If sharing food, have one
person (wearing a face mask and gloves) serve food and use single-use
options, like salad dressing and condiment packets, and disposable
items like food containers, plates, and utensils.
Consider small seating table
arrangements in multiple rooms with plenty of spacing, instead of a
large family table.
Improve ventilation by opening
windows and doors.
For 14 days before and after
holiday gatherings, minimize contact with other people, and leave home
only for essential services like going to work, buying groceries, and
appointments with doctors.
If you are planning to travel for Thanksgiving:
Travel
increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the
best way to protect yourself and others. If you must travel:
All visitors entering
Massachusetts, including returning residents, are required to
quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19
test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to
your arrival in Massachusetts.
Wear a face covering at all
times in public
Stay 6 feet apart from anyone
who is not in your household
Get a flu shot before
traveling, if you have not already
Wash your hands often or use
hand sanitizer
Avoid touching your mask, eyes,
nose and mouth
BPHC
health officials encourage families to find safer, alternative or virtual
ways to celebrate Thanksgiving. The safest celebrations involve people from
your household, are outdoors, and allow for social distancing and other
safety measures.
Lower risk activities:
Having a small Thanksgiving
dinner with only people who live in your household.
Host a virtual dinner with
extended family and friends. Show off your favorite dishes and share
your favorite recipes.
Host a Thanksgiving meal
outdoors, if possible.
Go for a walk with extended
family members, while wearing a mask and staying 6 feet apart.
Preparing traditional family
recipes for family and neighbors and delivering them in a way that
doesn't involve contact with others.
Shopping online rather than in
person on the day after Thanksgiving. Use contactless services, like
curbside pick-up or shop in open air markets and stay 6 feet away from
others.
Higher risk activities:
Attending or hosting indoor
gatherings with people from outside your home.
Sharing food and drinks.
Shaking hands and hugging. Wave
and verbally greet others instead.
Singing, dancing, and shouting.
These activities increase your chances of catching COVID-19 through
the air.
Read more on the Thanksgiving
guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For more information on Boston's response to COVID-19, please visit
boston.gov/coronavirus.
Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito Issue Statements on Confirmation of Justice Kimberly Budd to Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court
Kimberly Budd is confirmed as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court.
BOSTON — Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito released the following statements on the Governor’s Council’s unanimous confirmation of Justice Kimberly Budd as Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court:
“Justice Kimberly Budd is an exceptional and dignified jurist that has served on the Supreme Judicial Court with fairness and integrity and I have the utmost confidence that she will now lead the Commonwealth’s highest court and all those that come before it with grace and impartiality,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am honored to congratulate Justice Budd on her unanimous confirmation, and am grateful to the members of the Governor’s Council for their diligence in considering and approving her appointment.”
“I am proud to congratulate Justice Kimberly Budd on her unanimous confirmation to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and am confident that as Chief Justice, her unique lens and perspective will ensure every voice is heard as the Court hears important and complex cases,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “I thank my colleagues on the Governor’s Council for their advice and consent in this process and appreciate their time and commitment.”
Company Represented that Product
Containing No Alcohol Could Sanitize and Fight off COVID-19 for Six Hours
BOSTON – After investigating a Maryland-based company that falsely marketed
and sold a product claiming to be an effective hand sanitizer alternative to
prevent the spread of COVID-19, Attorney General Maura Healey has secured a
$550,000 agreement resolving claims that it illegally misled the Massachusetts
Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) into ordering thousands of dollars’
worth of the product, which contained no alcohol – a key ingredient in hand
sanitizer.
The AG’s Office alleges that in March, the MBTA sought to purchase hand
sanitizer as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at its
facilities and contacted Federal Resources Supply Company after receiving a
marketing email promoting “Theraworx Protect,” a product manufactured by Avadim
Health, Inc., as a “COVID-19 product.” The MBTA was told by Federal Resources
that the product sanitizes at a “30-second flash and provides a 6 hour
prolonged effect” to fight off the virus, elaborating that “if you touch
something it will fight it off.” The AG’s Office alleges that, after relying on
these false statements by Federal Resources, the MBTA made three large purchase
orders of the product, and now has unused product in storage.
“This company’s reckless and deceptive actions put the health of our frontline
workers and the public at even further risk during this unprecedented public
health crisis,” AG Healey said. “We took action against this company
because their attempt to exploit people during the COVID-19 pandemic for their
own profit was not only unacceptable, it was illegal.”
“The MBTA greatly appreciates the work of the Attorney General’s Office, which
held this company accountable and recovered the T’s costs,” said MBTA
General Manager Steve Poftak. “The safety of our employees is a top
priority, and it’s shameful that, during a pandemic, a vendor would make false
claims about a product’s effectiveness.”
The assurance of discontinuance, filed and entered in Suffolk Superior Court,
resolves allegations that Federal Resources Supply Company violated the
Massachusetts False Claims Act and the state’s Consumer Protection Act by
promoting, without adequate evidence, that “Theraworx Protect” is effective as
a hand sanitizer to combat COVID-19, when the product contains no alcohol. To
prevent the transmission of COVID-19, the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
recommends that if soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is an effective alternative. The
AG’s Office further alleges that Federal Resources Supply Company violated the
law by promoting without adequate evidence that its product fights off the
virus for six hours after application.
This matter was handled by
Assistant Attorney General Mary-Ellen Kennedy of AG Healey’s False Claims
Division, with assistance from False Claims Division Chief Amy Crafts.
The False Claims Division was created by AG Healey in 2015 to safeguard
public funds and promote integrity and accountability in public contracting. AG
Healey urges anyone with information about suspected fraud or abuse relating to
state or municipal contracts or funds to contact the False Claims Division’s
tip line at 617-963-2600.
MAYOR
WALSH, CITY OF BOSTON CELEBRATE REOPENING OF DORCHESTER PARK, FOLLOWING
RENOVATIONS
BOSTON
- Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston Parks
Commissioner Ryan Woods announced this week the unveiling of recent
improvements in Dorchester Park located at 2180 Dorchester Avenue. During the
first week of November the City of Boston reopened the George Wall Playground
following $626,000 in renovations funded by Mayor Walsh's Capital Improvement
Plan and Youth Lead the Change, the Mayor's participatory budget for
accessible equipment that gives young people power over one million dollars
of the city's capital budget. Dorchester Park is one of several Boston
Parks and Recreation Department facilities reopening this fall within current
health guidelines. Other renovated parks opening this year are in the
neighborhoods in Hyde Park, Mattapan, and South Boston.
"We
are investing in parks citywide as part of Boston's plan to provide quality
green spaces for all residents and play spaces for the children of our
city," said Mayor Walsh. "Families are encouraged to follow social
distancing guidelines and enjoy fresh air at the improved Dorchester Park
playground before winter sets in."
The
design retains the large climbing structure central to the playground while
two age-appropriate play structures were replaced with new state-of-the-art
equipment for children ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12. The project includes four
bays of swings, but the bays are separated and rearranged with a single bay
of swings with two toddler bucket swings. A separate bay of swings features
three belt swings, an ADA-compliant bucket swing, and a "Friendship
Swing" that allows two children or a parent and child to swing together.
An ADA accessible drum set adds another play feature to the playground.
In
response to requests from the community to emphasize the connection between
the playground and nature a curved path now leads users through the play
area. The path connects to a mulched surface around a climbing rock. Children
no longer need to traverse the area behind the swing bays to get to this
exciting nature play. This not only encourages children to reach out beyond
the manufactured play area, but it keeps them safer and out of the swing
area.
The
Parks Department also added a wooden play frame encouraging children to reach
further into the natural areas and engage their creative play. New site
furnishings include benches and an ADA accessible community picnic table.
Since
2014, the Walsh administration has invested more than $115 million across the
city's parks system, representing some of the most significant parks
investments in Boston's history. The Fiscal Year 2021-2025 (FY21-FY25)
Capital Plan includes enhanced support to maintain the City's Urban Wilds and
Tree Canopy, increases in funding to plant and maintain trees across the
city, as well as $36 million for new and ongoing open space projects.
An outdoor drum set is one
of the new play features at Dorchester Park.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh and
the Boston Parks and Recreation Department recently reopened the playground
at Dorchester Park following $535,000 in improvements including site
furnishings and a variety of state-of-the-art play equipment.
AG HEALEY ISSUES GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS TO HELP PREVENT
AND ADDRESS HATE AND BIAS
Provides Guidance and Resources to Assist Schools
BOSTON
– To help ensure that all students
across Massachusetts feel safe and supported, Attorney General Maura Healey’s
Office today issued guidance to school officials about their legal obligations to
prevent and address hate and bias incidents at their educational institutions.
At a time of heightened strain in school communities, the AG’s Office is
providing guidance and resources to help schools respond properly if a hate
incident occurs.
The
AG’s Guidance on Schools’ Legal Obligations to Prevent and
Address Hate and Bias Incidents,
which was sent today to school
superintendents, charter school leaders, and school administrators, describes
how schools must respond to hate and bias incidents involving students and what
proactive steps schools must take to prevent such incidents. It also highlights
several best practices that schools should consider for preventing and
responding to hate incidents. The AG’s Office is also offering a directory of relevant training and other resources. The Office wants to ensure
that all school officials have the information and tools that they need if a
hate incident occurs
“I
commend our school leaders, teachers, and staff across the state who have been
on the front lines of providing essential educational and social-emotional
services during this time of uncertainty and distress amid the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic and as we’re all grappling with racial injustice and its negative
effects on individuals and society as whole,” said AG Healey. “We want
to make sure schools have the information and support they need to address and
prevent incidents of hate and bias and ensure that every student can learn in a
nurturing and welcoming environment, free from bullying and harassment.”
The
AG’s Office has recently engaged with school administrators, teachers, staff,
parents, students, and community members who are concerned about hate incidents
in the state’s elementary and secondary schools and who are re-examining the
role of schools in preventing and addressing these incidents. Student
misconduct that involves hate, bias, or prejudice can have a devastating impact
on victims and can severely disrupt the school environment. The AG’s Guidance
is designed to assist schools in their continuing efforts to combat hate and
foster a safe, supportive, and inclusive educational environment, consistent
with their obligations under state law.
The
AG’s Guidance, which can be found here, describes schools’ obligations to prevent and respond to hate and
bias incidents under Massachusetts’s anti-bullying and anti-discrimination
laws; details required, affirmative steps to help create a positive school
climate and prevent these incidents; and provides examples of best practices to
implement education, prevention, and remediation measures. A list of additional
resources for schools can be found here.
The
AG’s Office is committed to securing the civil rights of all students in
Massachusetts. If you have questions about this Guidance or other civil rights
concerns, you may contact the Office online
or at 617-963-2917.
CITY OF
BOSTON OFFERING EXPANDED RECYCLING RESOURCES FOR RESIDENTS
City of
Boston expands residential yard waste options and installs textile
dropboxes in neighborhoods throughout the City.
BOSTON
- Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - Following through with recommendations made
in the City of Boston's first ever Zero
Waste Plan, the Boston Public Works Department (PWD) in partnership
with northeast-based textile recycling company, Helpsy,
began delivering dropboxes for residents to dispose of their textiles to
municipal parking lots across Boston. These dropboxes are part of the City
of Boston's work to expand recycling services citywide, creating a
healthier and greener environment for generations to come.
"Reducing
waste is a core element of ensuring Boston is a healthy, thriving and
sustainable city," said Mayor Walsh. "This program moves us one
step closer to our ultimate goal of becoming a Zero Waste City, and we will
continue to work hard to achieve Boston's environmental goals."
For
residents looking to drop off their household textiles, including clothes,
shoes, sneakers, bags, stuffed animals, bedding and towels, those items
must be dry and placed into a secured plastic bag. Dropboxes can be found
at municipal lots in Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica
Plain, South Boston, Roslindale and West Roxbury.
Textile
dropbox locations include:
398 Market Street, Brighton
191 Adams Street, Dorchester
20 Georgia Street, Dorchester
575 Washington Street,
Dorchester
166 London Street, East Boston
37 Winthrop Street, Hyde Park
490 Centre Street, Jamaica
Plain
450 West Broadway, South Boston
10 Taft Hill Terrace,
Roslindale
39-41 Corey Street, West
Roxbury
Once
sorted and graded, 95 percent of textiles collected are reused, upcycled,
or recycled, 75 percent being reused, and 20 percent being recycled. The
higher grades are resold to thrift stores in North America and other second
hand markets around the world. The lower grades get turned into rags for
industrial use or alternative functions like stuffing or insulation. In
just the last year, Helpsy has collected and processed over 25 million
pounds of textiles.
In
addition to textiles, roughly 30 percent of what gets put into the trash in
Boston is compostable. Boston has expanded its leaf and yard waste curbside
collection program from 17 to 20 weeks a year. The City is offering 20
additional weekends where yard waste can be dropped off at the Public Works
composting facility on American Legion Highway. All residential yard waste
is turned into compost and distributed to City Gardens and Boston Parks and
Recreation Department greenhouses. Leaf and yard waste curbside collection
will continue every week through December 11th.
"While
residents are familiar with recycling plastics, glass, metal and paper,
many residents don't know they can recycle textiles," said Chief of
Streets Chris Osgood. "We hope the availability of neighborhood
textile dropboxes along with other expanded services Boston is offering
raises awareness that almost everything in our lives is
recyclable."
The
City of Boston continues to encourage residents to utilize tools like
the City's free "Trash Day" app. The app enables Boston
residents to search a directory of hundreds of household items to find out
the right way to dispose of them while on the go or at home. App users can
also view a calendar for their home's collection dates, set reminders, get
notifications of schedule changes, and locate the nearest textile
dropbox in your neighborhood.
Boston
residents can also safely dispose of hazardous waste, shred unwanted documents,
discard textiles and recycle electronics for free at a series of Household
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off events.
These
programs build on Boston's Zero
Waste Plan, which was released in June 2019. This plan includes 30
near- and long-term strategies to divert at least 80 percent of the City's
waste from landfills and municipal solid waste combustors by 2035.
Key
pieces of the plan include expanding Boston's composting program,
increasing access to recycling opportunities and launching a city-wide
education campaign on recycling. Approximately six percent of Boston's
greenhouse gas emissions come from the City's discarded materials. By
reducing waste, recycling more, and composting, Boston can reduce emissions
associated with waste and move one step closer to its goal of carbon
neutrality by 2050, outlined in the City's 2019
Climate Action Plan update. While reducing emissions, the City is
working to prepare for sea level rise and the impacts of climate change. Resilient
Boston Harbor is the City's vision plan to strengthen Boston's 47-mile
shoreline through expanded and connected green space. The City has already
completed segments of the vision through district-level projects in East
Boston, Charlestown, and South Boston, and is currently working on climate
resiliency measures for Downtown and Dorchester.
查理貝克在2016年時任命了Kimberly S. Budd,Frank M.
Gaziano,以及David A. Lowy等3人,次年再任命Elspeth “Ellie” B. Cypher,該法庭第2位公開承認自己是同性戀的法官,以及麻州當時的最高上訴法院法官Scott L. Kafker。
最近的這波任命,是因為Barbara
A. Lenk法官即將於12月達到規定退休年齡,接著首席法官Ralph
D. Gants又在9月時突然逝世。
在州長任內連任命一位最高法院法官的機會也沒的是朗尼(Mitt
Romny)。
Serge Georges Jr.今年50歲,住在龍都鎮(Randolph),曾任麻州黑人律師協會會長,在幾個律師行工作過,包括曾任Barron
& Stadfeld律師樓的合夥人,也曾自己開業,主要承辦商務及企業訴訟,還有刑事法業務。過去20年來他也在薩福克大學法學院任教。
他將遞補Kimberly
S. Budd成為大法官後的副法官遺缺。他畢業於波士頓學院及薩福克(Suffolk)大學法學院,2013年時由前州長派區克(Deval Patrick)任命為波士頓地方法官,目前在他的出生地主持多徹斯特法庭。在2014到2018年間,他掌管多徹斯特毒品法庭。
在州政府大樓舉行的記者會中,Serge
Georges Jr.透露,他父親當年來到美國為聯合國工作,被派去薩伊(Zaire)教書,因此他是在曼哈頓出生。
查理貝克在介紹Serge Georges Jr.時指出,麻州有幾百名法官,直接從地方法院調到最高法院的確很少有,但州政府重視的是第一流的法律頭腦,以及合作精神。
Governor Baker Nominates Judge Serge Georges Jr. to
the Supreme Judicial Court
Serge Georges Jr. (By Chutze Chou)
BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today nominated Associate
Justice for the Boston Municipal Court, Serge Georges, to serve as an Associate
Justice on the Supreme Judicial Court. The nominee and his family joined Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito
for a formal announcement today at the State House.
“Judge Georges has served on
the Boston Municipal Court with great distinction and treats all those that
come before him with dignity and respect,” said Governor Baker. “His
unique voice and real world experiences will improve the quality of discussion
and debate on the Commonwealth’s highest court and I am pleased to nominate
him.”
“Judge Georges’ rich
background in and out of the courtroom, from his time in private practice to
his experience on the drug court, will well serve the Massachusetts Supreme
Judicial Court and all those that come before it,” said Lt. Governor Polito.
“I have the utmost confidence that, if confirmed, Judge Georges will be an
excellent addition to the SJC and I look forward to the advice and consent of
my colleagues on the Governor’s Council.”
The Supreme Judicial Court is
the Commonwealth's highest appellate court, consisting of the Chief Justice and
six Associate Justices. The seven Justices hear appeals on a broad range of
criminal and civil cases from September through May and issue written opinions
that are posted online.
About Judge Serge Georges,
Jr.:
Judge Serge Georges serves as
an Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court. He had a successful and
diverse career as an experienced litigator prior to his appointment to the
bench in 2013 by Governor Deval Patrick. Directly prior to his appointment,
he managed his own successful solo practice concentrating in commercial and
business litigation, criminal defense, and matters involving professional
licensure and liability. He represented businesses and individuals in a
wide range of civil disputes including breach of contract, fiduciary duty
suits, employment matters, housing litigation and personal injury cases. In
private practice, he also defended criminal cases, including motor vehicle
offenses and violent and drug related charges. Prior to establishing his solo
practice, Georges was a partner at Barron & Stadfeld, P.C., the Managing
Director for Major, Lindsey & Africa, LLC, and an associate at both Todd
& Weld and Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster. He served on multiple boards
during his legal career, includingthe
Board of Governors of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers, and he was
the President of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association in
2013.
In his role as Associate
Justice of the Boston Municipal Court, over the last seven years, he has had
jurisdiction over both criminal and civil matters, including housing matters,
mental health hearings, restraining orders and small claims and civil
litigation cases. Judge Georges sits in the Dorchester Division of the Boston
Municipal Court, one of the most active and busiest urban courts in the
Commonwealth. From 2014 to 2018, Judge Georges presided over the
Dorchester Drug Court. The Dorchester Drug Court is a multidivisional team
working with community providers, representatives from Suffolk Lawyers for
Justice and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to offer treatment
options to those whose addictions have led them into the criminal justice
system.
Judge Georges graduated from
Boston College in 1992, and from Suffolk University Law School in 1996, where
he has served as an adjunct professor for the past twenty years. At
Suffolk Law he teaches courses in Professional Responsibility, Evidence and
Trial Advocacy. He also teaches Trial Advocacy at UMass Law School. He
attended Boston College High School and currently serves as vice-chair of the
Board of Trustees for BC High, and remains involved with the school. In January
of this year, BC High awarded Judge Georges The James E Cotter ’55 Courage
Award. This award is presented to a member of the BC High Community in
recognition of courage in the face of adversity, tenacious spirit and force of
will. He grew up in Kane Square, in Dorchester, and currently resides in
Randolph with his wife Michelle and his two daughters, Olivia and Samantha. (From the governor's office)