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| 波士頓慈濟志工們掃街前合影。 |
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| 波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(前右二)也加入掃街行列。(周菊子攝) |
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| 華商會的余麗媖(右)為波士頓慈濟長金滿(左)等人提供掃帚等工具。(周菊子攝) |
這趟掃街，華商會的余麗媖不但照舊提供掃帚，畚箕，黑色垃圾袋等清掃工具，還把紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓華埠獅子會理事謝如鍵都拉來當義工，加入清掃行列。波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，以及張小慧，還有經文處的王麗芬也都來響應這服務社區的公益活動。
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| 慈濟師兄陳裕逢和東北大學的李家睿一組掃街。(周菊子攝) |
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| 波士頓慈濟師姐和年輕志工薛嘉瑋(中)等人清掃乞臣街。(周菊子攝) |
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| 波士頓慈濟志工分頭掃街。(周菊子攝) |
長金滿表示，慈濟波士頓聯絡處的華埠服務站，目前仍然是每週二、三、六開放，歡迎有任何需要的社區大眾，提前和慈濟聯繫，預約時間，以俾人力運用更有效率。
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| 清掃後的泰勒街，好乾淨。(周菊子攝) |
MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES SANTIAGO GARCES AS NEW CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER AND JULIA GUTIERREZ AS CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER
(Boston Orange 綜合編譯)波士頓市政府大樓對面的停車場，週六 (26)突然坍塌，一名建築工人不幸身亡。
麻州橘線地鐵的北車站到後灣站之間路段，以及綠線的北車站到政府中心站之間路段，因這坍塌事件，恐怕將會封閉數日，以俾工程師執行工作，確保隧道安全。麻州地鐵局表示，地鐵乘客將可從後灣(Back
Bay)或Ruggles站搭乘通勤火車進南車站(South
Station)。市中心的巴士服務，可能未出現延遲現象。
波士頓消防局指出，坍塌事件發生在傍晚5點半，承包商正在拆除停車場結構。目擊者告訴調查人員，在樓層底部斷裂時，死者正在操作一輛重型車，結果人車一起摔跌九層樓。
由於事件發生在城中區，樓宇坍塌時響聲極大，煙霧迷漫，四週的急救車輛，人員立刻從四面八方趕了過去。到週日早上時，由於職業安全與健康管理局(OSHA)調查員還在執行工作，沿著事發地點的Sudbury街仍然封閉著。
波士頓消防局發言人Brian
Alkins表示，他們正在協助聯邦機構，該局的雲梯3隊，以及建築組還在現場工作。
波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle
Wu)的發言人，週日時請媒體洽詢消防局。隨後吳弭市長在推特上發文哀悼死者，表示市府正在調查，出事地點將暫時封閉。
職業安全與健康管理局(OSHA)的本地辦公室，就在事發地點不遠，該辦公室代表也未立即回應外界提問。
薩福克郡地方檢察官Kevin
Hayden說，他的辦公室也會參與調查。
波士頓緊急救援局
(EMS)的發言人表示，事件中還有和坍塌事件無直接關係的另一人送醫救治，情況不明。WBUR透露，一本地工會指出，死者為51歲的建築工人Peter Monsoni。
拆除停車場是HYM投資集團正在進行，要重新發展，改建一棟12層樓高生命科學大樓計畫的一部分。
周六發生坍塌事件後，該計畫的總包商John
Moriarty & Associates表示，已撤出工人，並暫時關閉了該一地點。
該公司在一份聲明中表示，結構工程師會在重啟任何工作前，確保該地點的安。
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| 麻州州長Charlie Baker歡迎烏克蘭難民。(檔案照片，周菊子攝) |
在俄國、烏克蘭之戰歷經一個月，仍然持續之際，已有大約300萬居民逃離烏克蘭，落難各地，目前世界各國都在伸出援手，只是協助速度似有緩不濟急之勢。
美國總統拜登在比利時布魯塞爾和歐洲盟國會晤時表示，美國將接收10萬難民，並為受到俄國侵略烏克蘭戰爭影響的國家，提供10億元人道援助經費。
麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker)在白宮發佈這消息之前就已說過，麻州會伸開雙臂歡迎烏克蘭人的到來，只是到底會有多少烏克蘭人來到麻州，目前還不清楚。他相信每個人都為烏克蘭發生這可怕的事情感到很糟糕，「如果烏克蘭人找到方法來美國，我們當然會加緊找出幫忙這些人的方法」。
查理貝克在3月3日時已經發出行政命令，指示麻州行政部門審視並終止任何與俄國國營公司的合約。他還指示麻州的難民及移民辦公室和聯邦政府的難民安置辦公室合作，支援逃離動亂的烏克蘭移民及難民。
麻州共有6各機構和美國國務院合作安置難民。美國政府會依據各組織的能力決定安置多少難民進入各州。在塔利班接管阿富汗之後，在去年九月至今年二月間，麻州接收了2000名難民。
根據波士頓市計畫發展局的數據，麻州現有25365名烏克蘭人，其中1682人住在波士頓。協助安置阿富汗難民，位於屋斯特(Worcester)的Ascentria
照顧聯盟(Ascentria Care Alliance)稱，大春田區約有一萬名烏克蘭人。
UNITE HERE Local 26 Endorses Tanisha Sullivan for Secretary of State
Today’s announcement comes less than a week after Sullivan announced the support of several leading elected officials in Boston, including State Representative Russell Holmes, State Representative Nika Elugardo, State Representative Liz Miranda, Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia, Boston City Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune, District 5 City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, District 6 City Councilor Kendra Lara, and District 7 City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson. In February, Sullivan was endorsed by national democracy advocate and former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen.
(Boston Orange 波士頓報導) 麻州州長候選人陳翟蘇妮 (Sonia Chang-Díaz)叫陣競爭對手奚莉(Maura Healey)在6月4日前做3次電視轉播的現場辯論，未獲回應，競選陣營今(28)日發聲明質疑。
陳翟蘇妮的競選經理Joshua
Wolfsun在聲明中指奚莉閃躲辯論，既是對麻州選民來說的一件壞事，也和她早年的立場不一致。2014年4月1日，奚莉第一次競選麻州總檢察長時，她就挑戰對手在選舉投票日前，至少每月辯論一次。2018年的州長選舉初選，民主黨也在6月的民主黨大會之前舉行過至少3次，有人主持，候選人親自出席的現場辯論。陳翟蘇妮這次要求辯論，也只是依往例形式而已。
Joshua Wolfsun稱，民主黨的州長候選人不應該懼怕站上舞台，和其他候選人辯論真正的議題。有太多事情會受牽連影響，選民們應該得到更清楚瞭解的機會。
在聲明中，陳翟蘇妮陣營稱發出要求辯論信後，犀利陣營次日就回覆了，但通篇回應未做任何承諾。
BOSTON, MA - State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz’s campaign for Governor is responding to her Democratic opponent Attorney General Maura Healey’s refusal to commit to three live, moderated debates prior to the party’s convention on June 4.
Joshua Wolfsun, Chang-Díaz’s campaign manager, issued the following statement
“The people of Massachusetts deserve a governor who will respect the democratic process, not expect a coronation. The Attorney General’s move to dodge committing to three debates before the convention is bad for the voters of our state — and inconsistent with her past positions. On April 1, 2014, when she was first running for Attorney General, Maura Healey challenged her opponent to debate her ‘at least once a month’ until the election. Sonia’s call for debates also reflects the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary, where the candidates participated in at least three live, in-person moderated debates and forums before June.
“Our Democratic nominee for Governor shouldn’t be afraid to get on a stage across from other candidates and debate the real issues. Too much is at stake, and the voters deserve nothing less. We urge the Attorney General to show the same commitment she showed in her first race, and agree to three live, moderated debates sponsored by media organizations ahead of the convention.”
Chang-Díaz initially called for three debates in a letter she sent to Healey last week. Healey’s campaign team responded with a media statement later that day that avoided making any commitments in response to the letter.
Read the Chang-Díaz’s full letter to Healey online here: https://bit.ly/Sonia-3-Debates
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| 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu，右四) 和波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn(右二)，波士頓市不分區市議員Michael Flaherty(左二)， 以及麻州參議員Mike Rush等人在南波士頓的一場儀式中，向這些國家英雄獻上花圈致敬。(圖片取自推特) |
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吳弭市長在推特上發文表示，「今日我們在南波士頓紀念榮譽勳章日，向獲得我們國家最高軍事英勇獎，國會榮譽勳章的英雄們致敬。波士頓市感謝你們為國服務」。
榮譽勳章基金會於1999年在美國國會支持下成立，既為表揚國家英雄，也為傳承美國精神，支持還在世的英雄們。
國家榮譽勳章的源始，可以追溯到1861年，但是直到1958年，美國國會和時任總統的艾森豪 (Eisenhower )才成立這組織，表揚戰爭英雄們。1963年越戰時，頒發國家榮譽勳章的標準更改為，必須在為國抗敵的英勇事蹟發生的3年內申報，5年內領取。
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| Francis B. Wai。 |
這些戰爭英雄中，居然還有59人是1900年參加「中國援救遠征隊 (China Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion))」，八國聯軍擊敗清軍和義和團在天津、北京戰役的人，包括在麻州出生的John M, Adams，James Burnes，William L. Carr，Francis T. Ryan，David J. Scannell，Frank E. Smith等6人。
讓人訝異，或者也不訝異的是，在這3千多名獲得國家榮譽勳章者中，有33名亞裔，從姓名看大概有一半為日裔，只有1名華裔，是在第二次世界大戰時的美國陸軍第34隊隊長Francis B. Wai，1917年在夏威夷好努魯努出生的他不但沿路把失去領導的士兵們納入麾下，帶領他們，還多次個人出擊，引誘敵方發動砲火，讓隊友查悉敵人火力所在。1944年10月20日時，他在率隊攻擊最後一個日本碉堡時陣亡。2000年6月時，由當年的柯林頓總統把獎章頒給了他哥哥。
Baker-Polito Administration Awards $1.6 Million in Community Compact Grants
13 grants impacting 60 municipalities
announced for regionalization and efficiency efforts
BUCKLAND – Lieutenant Governor
Karyn Polito today announced $1.6 million in grants through the Community
Compact Cabinet Efficiency and Regionalization (E&R) Grant Program. This
program’s funding assists municipalities in providing services to their
constituents in a more efficient and cost-effective way. Including this year’s
awards, the Baker-Polito Administration has issued 86 grants through this
program, providing a total of $7.1 million in funding for one-time or
transition costs for municipalities, regional planning agencies, school
districts and councils of government.
“Through the Community
Compact Program, our administration has provided hundreds of communities with
means to pursue important regionalization and efficiency initiatives, best
practices and technology infrastructure improvements," said
Governor Charlie Baker. “Continuing this partnership, we are proud to
support this year’s award recipients in their efforts to implement more
effective and efficient ways to serve their residents.”
“This year’s Efficiency
and Regionalization grants will again fund a wide range of innovative projects
that will have outsized benefits on the recipient constituencies,” said
Lt. Governor Polito, Chair of the Community Compact Cabinet. “We
appreciate the continued commitment of our local community leaders in
identifying opportunities to drive maximal impact through these collaborative
regional efforts.”
The Efficiency and
Regionalization Grant Program was started by the Administration in Fiscal Year
2017 and provides funds that may be used toward the planning and implementation
of regionalization initiatives – including shared services, intergovernmental
agreements, consolidations and other collaborative efforts – and for efficiency
efforts to improve the delivery of local services.
“Efficiency and
Regionalization grants enable initiatives that improve the quality and delivery
of local services in smart, cost-effective ways,” said Administration
and Finance Secretary Michael Heffernan. “By leveraging regional
relationships, these municipalities will be able to maximize the impact of this
funding and find efficient solutions to address shared needs.”
Buckland, where today’s
announcement was held, will receive $200,000 to support shared police services
with Shelburne. Other awards include:
About the Community
Compact Cabinet
Formed in January 2015,
the Community Compact Cabinet is chaired by Lt. Governor Polito and is composed
of the Secretaries of Housing and Economic Development, Education,
Transportation, Energy and Environmental Affairs, and Technology Services and
Security, along with the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Local Services and the
Assistant Secretary of Operational Services. The Community Compact Cabinet
elevates the Administration’s partnerships with cities and towns and allows the
Governor’s Office to work more closely with leaders from all municipalities.
The Cabinet champions municipal interests across all executive secretariats and
agencies, and develops, in consultation with cities and towns, mutual standards
and best practices for both the state and municipalities. The creation of
Community Compacts creates clear standards, expectations, and accountability
for both partners.
For a full list of
awardees and projects, click here.
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Furnace
Brook Golf Course Open to Public April 1st
Mayor Thomas Koch announced that the golf season
at Furnace Brook Golf Course will open to the public on April 1st for the first
time in 50 years. The City of Quincy’s Department of Natural Resources is
operating the course after the 50-year lease expired last year with the private
Furnace Brook Golf Club, Inc.
“We are excited to add this recreational
opportunity to our inventory of parks and open spaces,” said Mayor Koch.
“Our plan is to provide affordable, local golf for our residents and in
the process introduce many more residents to the game of golf. This is a
beautiful parcel of open space and we are glad to keep it as such for
generations to come.”
Greens fees for Quincy residents have been set
at:
|
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Weekday |
Weekend/Holiday |
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18 Holes |
$45 |
$55 |
Carts are $20 for 18 holes and $15 for 9 holes.
Non-residents will pay $10 extra in each category listed above.
Greens fees will be available through online booking for the first time.
Golfers can go to furnacebrookgolfcourse.com to book tee times 48 hours
in advance.
“We want to introduce as many residents to the
course as possible,” said Commissioner of Natural Resources Dave Murphy.
“This means affordable greens fees, camps, clinics, and other methods to
help inform people of this great resource we have available to the public.
Golf has many barriers to entry and we see an opportunity to grow the
game and improve the quality of life in the city.”
There are some Limited and Junior membership
opportunities still available. Family and Unlimited memberships are full
but a waiting list is being compiled for 2023.
PGA Golf Professional Tom Ellis will be running
the golf operations for the City. Ellis comes from Granite Links Golf
Club and has extensive experience managing public courses as well.
Plans are underway for a new clubhouse building
to replace the antiquated structure that was built in 1926. It does not
meet ADA standards and much of the infrastructure and utilities would have to
be replaced. The Fours Restaurant group has been awarded the contract for
food and beverage service at the clubhouse. They expect to open their
operation at Furnace Brook in early-April.
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| 陳翟蘇妮在推特上貼文，描述她跑競選行程之忙碌。(圖片來自推特) |
陳翟蘇妮在發給奚莉的一封信中表示，”民主黨員應該公開的聽到麻州州長候選人對大家所面對重要議題的看法”。”這是要求願意回答艱難問題，展現領導力，並向我們所服務的居民提供無畏承諾的時刻”。
“因為所有這些理由，我請你和我一起承諾，在麻州民主黨黨代表大會於6月舉行之前，在全州各地至少有3次由媒體機構贊助，有人主持的現場，實體辯論。
陳翟蘇妮信件內容已放在網路上，https://bit.ly/Sonia-3-Debates 。
IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY BARRED FROM RUNNING ASYLUM SCAM, ORDERED TO PAY MORE THAN $240,000 FOLLOWING AG LAWSUIT
Court Order Follows 12-Day Bench Trial in October 2021 Against George C. Maroun, Jr.; AG’s Office Alleged Defendant Exploited Brazilian Immigrants Seeking Legal Services
BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that an attorney, sued for running an asylum scam in the Brazilian immigrant community, has been found to have engaged in unfair or deceptive practices, ordered by a judge to pay more than $240,000 in penalties and restitution, and barred from any future illegal immigration services.
The order, issued after a 12-day bench trial in Middlesex Superior Court, follows a civil lawsuit filed by the AG’s Office in 2018 alleging that George C. Maroun, Jr. targeted the Brazilian immigrant community and routinely employed deceptive and misleading practices in violation of the state’s Consumer Protection Act.
“This attorney's business model targeted and exploited immigrants looking for legal help and made a profit at their expense, while also putting them at risk of deportation,” said AG Healey. “This was a hard-fought case by my office, and we are pleased to secure restitution and achieve accountability for those harmed by these illegal practices.”
Maroun practices immigration law and has maintained law offices in various locations, including in Somerville, Woburn, Chelmsford, and Stoneham. According to the AG’s complaint, since January 2013, Maroun submitted immigration-related petitions and applications on behalf of more than 1,000 residents in Eastern Massachusetts, many of whom are Brazilian and speak limited English.
Based on the evidence presented at trial, the judge found Maroun repeatedly violated the Consumer Protection Act by filing immigration applications on behalf of new clients without their knowledge or consent; failing to explain the legal processes he would use in their cases or the possible risks or benefits of those processes; filing asylum applications and affidavits containing false information; filing untimely asylum applications which were nearly certain to result in denial and lead to removal proceedings; making false guarantees and misrepresentations about the likelihood that Maroun would secure clients legal immigration status; and using threats of deportation to collect attorney’s fees.
Under the terms of the court order, Maroun is required to pay a total of $241,800, including $160,000 in civil penalties and $81,800 restitution for affected clients. Maroun is also permanently prohibited from representing new clients, filing immigration applications, or soliciting legal fees without disclosing and fully explaining the legal processes, available options for clients, and any risks and benefits to his services.
Maroun is also required to obtain the client’s consent before undertaking any representation or filing any applications on behalf of the client and is barred from making threats of deportation or other negative immigration consequences in order to collect current or additional legal fees from clients.
In his decision, the judge noted that the Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers are in a position to decide whether to place restrictions on Maroun’s ability to practice law in the Commonwealth.
As part of her office’s ongoing efforts to advocate for the state’s immigrant communities, AG Healey has been informing and protecting residents from fraudulent immigration law practices. The office’s multilingual education campaign, first launched in 2018, provides immigrant communities with information about these predatory practices, and the tools and tips necessary to help protect themselves. The AG’s Office has since relaunched its education materials and outreach after hearing from community partners about unscrupulous lawyers taking advantage of their clients and a widespread scam known as “notario fraud,” or the unauthorized practice of immigration law.
The AG’s Office has previously taken action against individuals for exploiting residents seeking immigration services. In 2016, Gerson Barahona, a Waltham man was ordered to pay more than $155,760 in restitution to victims, civil penalties, and attorney’s fees, after posing as an immigration lawyer and unlawfully charging hundreds or thousands of dollars for legal advice and services. The AG’s Office sought and obtained a preliminary injunction in December 2014 that required Barahona to cease providing any services related to immigration matters.
To report an immigration scam, call the AG’s Civil Rights Division at (617) 963-2917. To learn more, please visit www.mass.gov/immigrationscams.
This case was handled by Senior Counsel Samantha Shusterman of AG Healey’s Consumer Protection Division, Assistant Attorney General David Ureña of AG Healey’s Civil Rights Division, former Paralegals Marina Bueno and Sneha Pandya and Paralegal Andrew Turnbull of the Consumer Protection Division, and Senior Investigator Ciara Tran of the Civil Investigations Division, with the assistance of State Trial Counsel James Sweeney and former Consumer Protection Division Chief Max Weinstein.
To view this press release in Portuguese, click here.
To view this press release in Spanish, click here.
