Baker-Polito Administration Re-Files Bill to Honor Veterans Lost to Service-Related Illness

 Baker-Polito Administration Re-Files Bill to Honor Veterans Lost to Service-Related Illness

Presented to Families, Medal Would Recognize PTSD and Other Service-Related Injuries and Illnesses

 

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration this week re-filed legislation to establish the Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity, which will be presented by the Massachusetts National Guard to the families of veterans who lost their lives to service-related illnesses and injuries.

 

“The Medal of Fidelity is an important opportunity to honor the brave men and women and their families who have served not just the Commonwealth, but the nation,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Service-related injuries and illnesses can persist long past service, and our administration is proud to offer legislation that, if passed, will demonstrate our gratitude for the sacrifices of our veterans and their loved ones.”

 

The bill, entitled “An Act Relative to Establishing the Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity,” will authorize the Commonwealth to award the Medal of Fidelity to the next-of-kin of Massachusetts service members who “died as the result of service-connected diseases, conditions or injuries that are related to either exposure to harmful toxins, herbicides, agents, and materials or service-related post-traumatic stress disorder.”

 

“As we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, there is no more appropriate time to recommit our administration to our veterans and their service,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Service-related illness and injuries can have devastating impacts on veterans and their families, and these selfless sacrifices should not go unnoticed and unacknowledged.”

 

Complementing the Medal of Liberty, which is presented to the families of Massachusetts veterans who die of combat-related physical injuries, the Medal of Fidelity will recognize service-connected injuries related to exposure to harmful substances, such as Agent Orange, as well as death attributed to service-related mental illness.

 

“We remain committed to honoring the Massachusetts veterans whose military service was inextricably linked with sacrifice,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Tom Turco. “The Medal of Fidelity will memorialize the call to duty that they answered so bravely, recognize the loss that their loved ones still mourn, and properly reflect our understanding that the invisible injuries of war are very real for military families.” 

 

“Those who have selflessly served in the military can endure trauma long beyond their active duty and while some service related health issues, such as PTSD and traumatic brain injury, which affect individual veterans and their loved ones, may be less obvious, they are equally important,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “The Commonwealth recognizes invisible wounds of war with this new honor.”

 

“The brave men and women who serve in the military suffer visible and invisible trauma. Massachusetts is a leader in providing benefits and services to veterans, and helping veterans access mental health and other services,” said Secretary of Veterans’ Services Cheryl Lussier Poppe. “We can never express enough gratitude for those who have served, but we can take every opportunity to honor and pay our respects to those who give so much to us, and their families.”

 

“This is the first medal of its kind given by the Commonwealth to recognize veterans who have lost their lives because of service-connected illness and injuries,” said Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, The Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard. “It represents the duty and commitment of service members, as well as their faithfulness to the nation. The medal also demonstrates the Commonwealth’s commitment to support them and their families before, during, and after military service.”

 

The bill will also authorize a commission to make Medal of Fidelity award recommendations to the Governor. The commission will be composed of The Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard and two field grade officers of the armed forces of the Commonwealth.

薩福克郡治安官舉辦首次現場波士頓市長候選人論壇 (now)

https://www.facebook.com/SCSDMA/videos/1778105655724793

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department Mayoral Forum

Boston Mayoral Candidates Forum 2021

Hosted by Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins & The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department

House of Corrections

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

黃一峰急需配對骨髓救命 親友集資1萬美元要謝捐贈者

                (Boston Orange)加州檢察官黃一峰的親友呼籲，”44歲以下年輕人，請上「亞裔捐贈計畫網站aadp.org」，登記捐贈骨髓，救人一命”。配對成功，獎勵一萬美金。

               加州聖他克拉拉縣資深華裔檢察官黃一峰（Charlie Huang）白血病復發，親友全力為他尋找匹配骨髓多時，迄今仍未覓得。由於黃一峰必須在6月底前找到匹配骨髓，他們在和時間賽跑，現集資1萬美元，希望鼓勵更多年輕人盡快登記捐贈，參與配對，以期挽救他的生命。

               現年45歲的黃一峰是前南灣華僑文教服務中心主任黃公弼的兒子，在加州南灣地方檢察官辦公室工作了20年，2010年協助成立全國亞太裔檢察官協會，2019年罹患侵略性白血病，不到一年康復，現又復發。

民眾在亞裔捐贈計畫網站aadp.org或bethematch.org註冊加入後，約三到五天會收到檢測盒，寄出檢測盒後，需要兩到三週，資料才會進入全國數據庫。

由於骨髓捐贈年齡限制44歲以下年輕人，黃一峰的親友希望各界熱心人士協助廣告周知這一訊息，讓更多年輕人知道，他們有機會救人一命。

徐小培彈奏巴哈境界高 樂評家:堪為記錄

徐小培演奏。(中華表演藝術基金會提供)

             (Boston Orange) 中華表演藝術基金會5月14日晚在波士頓伊莎貝拉美術（Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum)舉辦徐小培鋼琴演奏會。樂評家稱許她彈奏巴哈境界之高，堪為記錄。

               這是中華表演基金會自2020年11月以來的第五場現場音樂會。雖然可以親自到場出席的聽眾人數，已由10人增加到64人，出席者仍嚴守保持安全社交距離，全體戴口罩的規定。

               剛取得波士頓大學音樂博士學位的鋼琴家徐小培，在伊莎貝拉美術館新穎美觀的四層樓高，可容300人的Calderwood大廳中，演奏多首由古至今的作品。

上半場她演奏的是李斯特根據巴哈所寫的幻想曲，賦格曲；根據舒伯特兩首歌曲所寫的鋼琴曲；鋼琴家駱奇偉根據Florence Price兩首歌曲改編的鋼琴曲；及Earl Wild根據Gershwin兩首歌曲寫的鋼琴曲。作曲家Florence Price 1906年畢業於紐英倫音樂學院，是美國非裔女作曲家中作品獲得全美五大樂團之一芝加哥交響樂團首演的第一位。

下半場她演奏了舒伯特的經典巨作第20號A大調D. 959奏鳴曲。

波士頓音樂雜誌（The Boston Musical Intelligencer）有50多年經驗，專評寫鍵盤音樂的資深樂評David Moran在場仔細傾聽，並以“燦爛明晰的徐小培”做文章標題的來稱讚。他 說: 『徐小培是一位強有力的鋼琴家。她在伊莎貝拉美術館的表現正如一位專業的雕刻家，用鏟子創造出不同風格的作品，每件作品都像是敬業的珠寶師，仔細精準做出的成品，的確可作為他人的榜樣。她所彈的李斯特依據巴哈的幻想曲及賦格曲所寫的兩首鋼琴曲，可謂已達極至，不可能有比她更有改進的表演了。幾十年來我聽過此曲演奏無數次，但沒有比今晚更好的律韻，更清新的音色，能把巴哈彈到如此境界，她已留下了一個永久性的標誌。』

               徐小培自小獲獎無數，從紐英倫音樂學院畢業後，陸續得到耶魯大學碩士，波士頓大學音樂博士學位。她曾應邀和波士頓交響樂流行樂團（The Boston Pops Orchestra)在波士頓交響廳 (Boston Symphony Hall)演出。鋼琴泰斗Martha Argerich 曾公開稱讚她是: 『敏感的鋼琴家，也是多彩的藝術家。』

徐小培除鋼琴外，在繪畫方面也表現傑出。她的作品有些獲Clara Haskil 比賽的評委收集並發表。

               本場音樂會的全場錄像已經放上YouTube: http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/season/20210514/index.html

中華表演藝術基金會接下來在6月5日及6月12日還有兩場免費音樂會。預約已將客滿。歡迎愛樂者樂捐支助場租演出費和各種費用。免稅捐款可上:

http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/donation/index.htm。

紐英崙中華公所更換4名董事 6月1日起大樓恢復開放

紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民。(視頻截圖)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)紐英崙中華公所(CCBA) 5月25日晚在網上召開2021年度第三次董事大會，主席鄭慧民宣佈更換4名董事，6月1日起，公所大樓恢復開放，華埠巡邏小組重出江湖，廣徵義工加入行列。

               中華公所每年舉辦的中秋節聯歡會，今年因應疫情，考慮改為一系列的小型活動。

紐英崙中華公所網上開董事大會。(視頻截圖)

               今年是中華公所的選舉年，誰當董事備受矚目。中華公所主席鄭慧民說明，4個僑團各因不同理由更換人選，新董事分別為波士頓榮光會楊思聖，梅氏公所梅錫銳，波士頓安良工商會陳偉民，紐英崙至孝篤親公所陳秀珍。

                          中華公所英文書記阮鴻燦是巡邏小組召集人。他說明中華公所預定6月1日起恢復巡邏，刻正以電子郵件和2名警務相關人員聯繫，安排日期培訓巡邏義工，就巡邏時哪些事可做，不可做，遇見狀況時如何處理等做說明。中華公所也將邀約波士頓警察局A-1區負責巡邏華埠的警官及警員們和巡邏義工晤面，以加強彼此合作，維護華埠治安的效果。

紐英崙中華公所網上開董事大會。(視頻截圖)

                    巡邏小組目前有義工22人。中華公所主席鄭慧民表示，多名中華公所往年主席都曾參與巡邏華埠，已有經驗，期盼這些歷屆主席，都能加入，壯大義工行列，傳承經驗。中華公所本屆董事中曾任中華公所主席者包括陳家驊，阮鴻燦，黃光野，梁添光，黃國威，何遠光，陳仕維等人。

                   5月22日晚討論最多的是中文會議紀錄。中華公所當晚的會議議程，寫著是要通過修改後的2020年11月，2021年2月，3月，以及4月份特別會議的記錄。但結果只通過了前面2份會議紀錄。3月份及4月份討論25號地段投標的特別會議這兩份會議記錄只有英文版。

紐英崙中華公所行政主任珠蘇珊報告中華公所營運狀況，發展項目。

                  中華公所主席鄭慧民從4月14日至5月19日，列舉了6個日期。他認為中文書記馮武成應有充分時間來製作中文會議紀錄，但5月19日中文書記發電郵，說自己注射第二劑新冠疫苗後，反應頗大，身體極不舒服，未能及時完成會議記錄，次日會交出，結果24日早上才又說，7月時會交。鄭慧民自己和公所行政主任朱蘇珊因而攜手修訂了之前累積的待訂正會議記錄。鄭慧民坦言感到自己未受尊重。

                      馮武成隨後解釋自己家有老小需照顧，還要上班，但仍竭力撥出時間服務社區，7月一定會完成會議記錄。

中華公所英文書記阮鴻燦也是華埠治安巡邏隊召集人。

                   中華公所董事陳家驊建議外聘人手，製作中文會議記錄，以解決這一問題。中華公所主席鄭慧民不同意，認為如以一來，中文書記一職名不符實，而且此例一開，將來英文書記，財政，核數等職位都要比照辦理時，怎麼辦。董事黃光野提議，同意馮武成展延至7月再交會議紀錄的要求，不過如果馮武成7月仍未完成，則應辭職。

                    行政主任珠蘇珊報告了大同村報稅表格，中華公所與Xerox/Conway公司續簽影印機租約，泰勒街90號中華公所大樓租戶的租金臨時減免50%

紐英崙中華公所財政陳余寶愛報告財政。(視頻截圖)

，展延至5月31日有效，公所大樓及大同村維修等中華公所營運事務。

       她也匯報了關於喜露街(Herald)50 號的未來發展計畫。波士頓市政府已收到，刻正代管1500萬元IDP經費，中華公所仍在等待Penrose公司提交更新計畫，Tom Yee代表Samuels表達合作發展意願。

             大同村南停車場的土地發展計畫，因規模縮減，目前仍在討論2500萬元替代資金來源。如果Motor Mart

中華公所董事陳家驊提議請外援，製作中文會議記錄。(視頻截圖)

項目持續延宕，中華公所或需轉向波士頓市府，麻州州府尋求資金，若一切順利，有望2022年中動工。

                   華埠治安巡邏隊的年度BBQ，今年預定於7月3日(週六)在中華公所停車場舉行。(更新版)

中華公所董事黃光野提議，若中文書記7月仍交不出會議記錄
應辭職。(視頻截圖)

MBTA將取消現金買車票辦法 廣邀民眾查察相關細節

MBTA社區聯絡員陳遠華出席中華公所董事大會，說明車票改制細節。

                (Boston Orange)麻州海灣運輸局(MBTA)預定2023年起，將取消現金付費買票，聘驗票員抽查等，推出一系列變更，刻正舉辦公聽會，並派員進社區說明。

               MBTA社區聯絡員陳遠華(Terrie Chan)5月25日晚出席紐英崙中華公所董事大會，做說明。

               MBTA預定2023年起不再接受上車後以現金買車票做法，將接受多種付費方式，包括新型儲值查理卡，手機上的查理卡應用程式，信用卡，儲值卡，智能錢包等。MBTA將同時擴大車票出售地點，包括車站內、街道上設售票機，請零售商代代售等，以確保使用者在搭乘MBTA交通工具前，可方便的購得查理卡(Charlie card)或車票。

               巴士、地鐵將於2023年起實施新辦法，通勤火車和渡輪預定2024年起實施。新法實施後，乘客必須一人一卡，MBTA將不再接受同一查理卡同時為一人以上支付費用。

               使用儲值查理卡遇上卡內餘額不足時，乘客將仍可搭乘交通工具，但欠費金額將紀錄於查理卡內，在乘客充值，以繼續使用該卡搭車時，所欠費用由機器自動扣繳。

               新查理卡本身一張五元。MBTA將推出辦法，讓低收入民眾可免費取得查理卡。

               新做法施行後，民眾可從巴士的任何一道門上車。MBTA將聘請大約80名查票員，以手持設備確認搭乘巴士、地鐵、通勤火車或渡輪的乘客是否已購票付費。未繳應付費用者，將罰款。首次違規，將發警告信，再次逃票則處以罰金。乘客可上訴，MBTA將審核，開聽證會。

               目前MBTA正在舉辦公聽會，辦理問卷調查，討論車票等相關規則。民眾可上網填寫問卷調查，http://mbta.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2mMEoDfdki33HRI ，或在6月之前，可直接發電郵給陳遠華，Tchan2@mbta.com。

            MBTA在5月25日及27日晚的6到8點，舉辦公聽會，民眾可上網了解或發言， https://www.mbta.com/news/2021-05-13/upcoming-fare-transformation-virtual-public-meetings 。

               MBTA另訂6月8日(週二)晚6點，為巴士路線重組召開公聽會，報名可上網。

                            查詢相關中文說明，可上網，銷售網路 https://youtu.be/eGO_W-qK4cU，查驗票    https://youtu.be/Otei6oJ1y8A 。

                                             

AG HEALEY JOINS BIPARTISAN COALITION URGING CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT SENIOR CITIZENS FROM FRAUD AND SCAMS

 AG HEALEY JOINS BIPARTISAN COALITION URGING CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT SENIOR CITIZENS FROM FRAUD AND SCAMS

Coalition Sends Letter of Support for Fraud and Scam Reduction Act to Prevent Financial Exploitation of Senior Citizens 

BOSTON — Attorney General Maura Healey has joined a bipartisan coalition of 47 attorneys general in urging congressional leaders to support the Fraud and Scam Reduction Act, which will assist stakeholders in training employees to recognize the warning signs of elder fraud and to prevent irreversible damage to elderly victims.

“Our senior citizens are amongst some of our most vulnerable residents being exploited through the mail, with robocalls, and on the internet by fraudsters looking to make a profit,” said AG Healey. “I’m joining my colleagues from all over the country to advocate for this important legislation so that we can protect seniors from fraud and scams through training and prevention.” 

The act, H.R. 1215, is bipartisan legislation – comprised of the Stop Senior Scam Act and Seniors Fraud Prevention Act of 2021 – that will provide innovative ways to combat the financial exploitation of senior citizens. The legislation will establish the Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group that is accountable to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and will collect data generated by stakeholders such as retailers, financial services, and wire-transfer companies to help educate employees on how to identify and prevent scams that target seniors. The group will develop training and educational materials for those employees best suited to identify the warning signs of elder fraud.

The act also establishes the Office for the Prevention of Fraud Targeting Seniors—housed in the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the FTC. The office will complement the efforts of the Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group by:

• Monitoring emerging scams that target seniors through the internet, mail, robocalls, telemarketing and television;
• Disseminating information on common fraud schemes; and
• Sharing information on how to report suspected senior fraud scams to a national fraud hotline and the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network.

The FTC will also work with the U.S. Attorney General’s Office to log and track complaints from victims and relay the information to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

To read the letter, click here.

AG Healey joined the attorneys general from the following states in signing on to the letter: Florida, New York, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Earlier this year, the AG’s Office held its first “Savvy Senior Consumer Day”, which was a virtual summit that aimed to help elderly residents and give them tips and resources on how to protect themselves from scam and identity theft, especially during the pandemic.

            Seniors in Massachusetts who have concerns about fraud and scams should reach out to the AG’s Elder hotline number at (888) AG-ELDER or (888) 243-5337.

Kim Janey 讚許法官否決Dennis White禁開聽證會要求

 Statement from Mayor Kim Janey on the Injunction Hearing for Dennis White

I applaud Judge Brieger’s ruling to deny this motion and will inform Dennis White of his rescheduled Zoom hearing. It is time to move our City and the Boston Police Department forward.

孫儉元，黃子安、Aaron Michlewitz華埠聚餐 以實際行動支持亞裔商家

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元(左起)，麻州眾議會財政委員會主席麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)，麻州眾議員黃子安
親自看看華埠牌樓的銅匾。(黃子安提供)

               (Boston Orange)新冠病毒疫情爆發以來，小企業受創嚴重。波士頓華埠餐館，店鋪生意慘跌。駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元(左起)，趁麻州疫情漸緩，小型聚會無礙之際，特地邀請轄區包括華埠、北端的麻州眾議會財政委員會主席麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)，以及轄區在Saugus的華裔眾議員黃子安到帝苑大酒樓餐敘，並於餐後，巡行華埠街道，順道購物，以實際行動支持地方商家。

               他們三人還特地走到波士頓華埠牌樓，談起這座牌樓的歷史。

               華人定居波士頓的歷史雖然悠久，這座牌樓迄今也還只有40年歷史，在1980年代，由中華民國政府捐贈材料，布朗基金會(Edward Ingersoll Browne Trust Fund)資助工程款，才建造而成。陳毓璇，陳毓禮兄弟，當年的波士頓、台北姐妹市協會會長阮浩鑾，以及現已遷居華府在聯邦房住局(HUD)國際事務辦公室擔任國際研究主任的林雄生等人，都出力甚多。

               在1993至1994年擔任波士頓市長，後曾出任美國駐梵蒂岡大使，也是波士頓市第二區市議員Ed Flynn父親的Ray Flynn，在他任內，特地製作了一塊銅牌，讓路人及遊客得以知道波士頓華埠牌樓的由來。

               2016年時的波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長，現為駐舊金山經文處處長的賴銘祺，和25個僑團合作，集資製作了更大的銅匾，以中英文說明牌樓上前後兩面橫匾的，「天下為公」，「禮義廉恥」這兩句話的意義。

GOVERNOR’S COUNCILOR EILEEN DUFF ANNOUNCES RUN FOR AUDITOR

 GOVERNOR’S COUNCILOR EILEEN DUFF ANNOUNCES RUN FOR AUDITOR

 GLOUCESTER - Governor’s Councilor Eileen Duff officially announced her run for Auditor on Tuesday afternoon, releasing the following statement:

 “Auditor Bump has set a new standard for the office and we owe her our deepest gratitude for all she did to ensure transparency and accountability in our state’s government. With her work, Massachusetts has truly become a leader in this mission. 

 She is leaving a legacy that will no doubt be difficult to live up to. 

 With that in mind, it is with great honor that I announce my intention to run for State Auditor. 

 In my time as a Governor’s Councilor, I vetted potential judges and advised them of the awesome power they were to acquire, as well as the responsibilities that come along with that.

 But I also looked past the title of the job to the possibilities of the office. 

 I fought hard for the transgender public accommodations bill. When we confirmed the most diverse Supreme Judicial Court in our state’s history, I didn’t consider our job done, I called for us to do the same in the lower courts. 

 If elected Auditor, I will take the authority vested in me to do good. From this office, we can seek equity, accountability, and justice. I am committed to protecting the public dollar and working with all government agencies to ensure best practices are implemented, all for the benefit of the taxpayer. 

 Massachusetts, I’m in this fight. I hope you will join me.”

 Leaders across the state voiced support for Councilor Duff’s run.

 “As a member of the Governor’s Council, Eileen fought hard for equity in our judicial system,“ said Representative Tram Nguyen. “Her strong commitment to the people of Massachusetts and her tenacity are the attributes we need in our next State Auditor, and I am proud to support her in her run.”

 “I’ve known Eileen and her family since high school. She has always been a talented and energetic person, and a tireless fighter! I know she will bring that same determination and enthusiasm to the Auditor’s office” said Representative Tom Walsh. “Eileen is the right person to be our next Auditor.”

 “I could not think of a better advocate for voices in Massachusetts than Eileen Duff,” said Jacquetta Van Zandt, Vice President of Development at The Partnership Inc. “Eileen has a track record of inclusionary efforts to bring many diverse voices to the table. State government would benefit greatly from her leadership and creative approach to governance.”

 “I am with Eileen Duff 100%,” said Governor’s Councilor and former Mayor of Springfield Mary Hurley. “She is a great Governor’s Councilor who gets along well with others and is mindful of the best interests of all of her constituents. She is an astute businesswoman with a first class education and incredible business experience. She will be great for Massachusetts as our next Auditor.”

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 ABOUT EILEEN DUFF

 Eileen Duff is currently a Governor’s Councilor for Massachusetts’ 5th district, where she has fought for equity in the judicial system since 2013. In winning her first election, she was the first open LGBTQ+ person to be elected to a constitutional office. 

 Prior to becoming an elected official, Eileen worked as a Chaplain for the Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston. She was also appointed by President Clinton to work as Confidential Assistant to Commissioner Rachelle Chong at the FCC in Washington, where she won many awards for public service.

 She currently resides in Cape Ann with her wife Jan.