翁逸虹接任波士頓地區僑界急難救助協會會長

波士頓地區僑界急難救助協會會長交接儀式。左起，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，首任
會長王志維，第二任會長歐陽露，新任會長翁逸虹，駐波士頓經文處領事洪麗玲，創辦
波士頓慈濟的馮文鑾，慈濟波士頓聯絡處現任負責人長金滿，張淑真，張小慧，
新英格蘭世衛協進會會長林思妤，波士頓慈濟人醫組鄧淑芳等人。(周菊子攝)

         (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓地區僑界急難救助協會成功換屆啦! 4月16日這天，在波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，波士頓經文處領事洪麗玲見證下，經營地產的歐陽露卸任，把會長棒子交給財務規劃業的翁逸虹。

              波士頓地區僑界急難救助協會正式成立於2017年3月，現任新英格蘭台灣商會會長王志維是第一任會長，當時的名稱是”波士頓地區僑界關懷救助協會。2019年歐陽露接任，第二年就遇上新冠病毒疫情，幾乎諸事停擺，只能在線上活動，會長交接的事這才展延到現在。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮 (右二)和波士頓經文處領事洪麗玲(左二)見證
歐陽露(左一)把會長棒子交給財務規劃業的翁逸虹(右一)。(周菊子攝)

                 歐陽露指出，駐波士頓經文處有個24小時開放的急難救助電話，617-6509252，一般情況是有求助電話打進經文處，或是該會接到求助訊息時，相關負責人都會互相知會，討論如何處理，再決定如何執行協助任務。由於關懷屬於長期性服務，該會的人力、物力並不充足，正好跟隨僑委會的決定改名為「波士頓地區僑界急難救助協會」，藉以強調該會旨在緊急事故發生時，以在地人對地方上的社會，文化，習俗，以及法律規章的了解，以及多年來建立的人脈網來竭力從旁協助。

長金滿分享急難救助經驗。(周菊子攝)

                   當天的出席會議者，包括當年創立慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處的馮文鑾，現任慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處負責人長金滿，波士頓慈濟人醫組組長鄧淑芳，以及洪麗玲領事，潘昭榮主任等，都分享了他們做急難救助的經驗，包括學生不慎摔斷腿，或因感情糾紛，心理壓力，導致精神出狀況，突然染重病等等，需要安排接送就醫，陪伴，探訪，解讀美國醫療保險等相關法規等等不一而足。

                  

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮提醒出席者，今年是僑委會90週年，請大家一起
用各種活動慶祝。(周菊子攝)

接任會長翁逸虹表示，自己早年也曾遭遇狀況，深知急難發生時，身邊無人可以求助，會讓人多焦慮。她希望接任後能夠匯聚一批不同領域，願意公佈聯繫資訊的熱心人，整理成冊公佈，讓更多人知道，有很多人願意貢獻所能，造福社會。(更新版) 

麻州交通局、MBTA、港務局今日連袂宣佈即日起搭乘公共交通工具不須戴口罩

 Face Coverings No Longer Required For MBTA, Airport Travelers 

The RIDE paratransit service and most Regional Transit Authorities still have a mask mandate in place

 

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), MBTA and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) are announcing updates to masking requirements following a U.S. District Court judge’s decision on Monday voiding the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation.

Beginning today, the mask mandate on MBTA vehicles and MBTA properties will be lifted for all MBTA customers. Masks will still be required by users of The RIDE paratransit services.

In line with updated guidance from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), travelers using the Commonwealth’s Massport facilities are no longer required to wear face coverings. This includes airports, Conley Terminal, and the Logan Express service.

Most of the state’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities (RTA) are also rescinding the face-covering mandate but members of the public should check with a specific RTA to confirm the requirement. 

 

“The Commonwealth has followed federal guidance in terms of face coverings and to be consistent with that, we are lifting the face covering mandate at the Commonwealth’s transportation hubs and on most public transportation vehicles,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler.  “While these face covering requirements are being lifted, we remind travelers that masks are welcome if people choose to wear them.”

MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak added, “Customers are no longer required to wear a mask on MBTA vehicles, or at stations or facilities if they choose not to; however, if people feel more comfortable wearing a facemask, then by all means continue to do so. The MBTA remains committed to safety and will continue adhering to all CDC and Massachusetts’ public health guidance. The T is continuing to clean vehicles and stations regularly and upgrade air filtration systems.”

 

“In line with the TSA’s guidance, mask wearing will now be optional within our airport facilities and on Logan Express buses,” said Massport CEO Lisa Wieland. “There may still be certain requirements onboard international flights, so we would encourage those passengers to check with their airline and destination.”

  

The MBTA continues its robust cleaning programs for passenger vehicles and stations, and the T regularly upgrades vehicles' air filtration systems.  Please find more information here on the MBTA's Ride Safer program: https://www.mbta.com/covid19/ride-safer?utm_campaign=curated-content&utm_content=Ride+Safer&utm_medium=whats-happening&utm_source=homepage&utm_term=null

 

Per the Department of Public Health, masks remain required in several settings including healthcare facilities and congregate care facilities. For a full list of requirements, please visit: mass.gov/maskupma.

波克萊台灣商會再辦龍蝦宴 歡迎來自台灣波馬跑者

波克萊台灣商會，波士頓經文處和來自台灣的波士頓馬拉松賽跑者大合影。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波克萊台灣商會設龍蝦宴，歡迎來自台灣的波士頓馬拉松賽跑者，是商會創始人游勝雄從2014年發起的傳統，被新冠病毒疫情打斷2年後，今年隨波士頓馬拉松賽恢復實體舉行，又再熱鬧登場，席開8桌的歡迎40多台灣波馬跑者。

波克萊台灣商會理事暨波士頓僑務委員郭競儒(左起)和商會理事陳玉瑛，紐英崙
中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓僑務委員陳仕維、鍾佩玲夫婦。(周菊子攝)

              礙於新冠病毒疫情仍未消散，波馬跑者回台灣還得隔離10天，許多人報了名，最後決定今年不參加。台灣雄獅旅行社張亞昭很熱心，代表台灣跑者和波克萊台商會聯繫。新任波克萊台灣商會會長李孟潔也很積極，不但敲定4月16日晚在新月宮餐敘，還和駐波士頓經文處的陳艾芸副領事，波士頓龍舟隊的隊長李鴻宇，公關陳奕如等人商量好4月18日比賽當天的加油，提供國旗事宜。

              當天傍晚，所有參加活動的人，先在波士頓華埠牌樓前拍張大合照，進餐館後用餐前，先欣賞一段波克萊台灣商會新任副會長洪維謙安排得來的波士頓市市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)歡迎來自台灣波士頓馬拉松賽跑者的錄影講話。

來波士頓參加馬拉松賽的跑者，紛紛在華埠牌樓前拉開國旗拍照留念。(周菊子攝)

              現任波士頓僑務委員的郭競儒、陳仕維，以及紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，經文處科技組組長謝水龍，這晚也都應邀出席，和波克萊台商會的歷任前會長，現任理事，包括徐小玲，楊羅東，陳玉瑛，羅靜春，沈立威，秘書長李典璋，以及波士頓龍舟隊成員一起組成了龐大歡迎隊伍。

              根據波士頓體育會的賽前資訊，79名來自台灣的報名參賽者，分別來自台北，新北市，台中，高雄，e桃園，新竹，南投，彰化等地，年齡最小的33歲，最大的74歲，有三分之二都是40歲以上。

波克萊台灣商會龍蝦宴現場。(周菊子攝)

              這些來自台灣的跑者，不少人彼此也並不認識，但因為都加入了”台灣波馬龍蝦討論團”的Line群組，於是有了”一飯之緣”，還彼此分享了許多波馬資訊。

              今年來波士頓的波馬跑者中，有視障跑者周坤芳和陪跑員侯美花，他們兩人因為跑馬拉松結緣的故事，十分感人。當過多年外語領隊，後來自己下場跑馬拉松的莊涵婷，更是今年跑完波馬就拿到大滿貫了。

              4月18日正式比賽這天，波克萊台灣商會和波士頓龍舟隊，以及駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處合作，在波約斯頓街蘋果店對面的普天壽大樓前站點加油。波士頓龍舟隊公關陳奕如一早就趕過去先搶位子，把一、二面青天白日滿地紅的大國旗，掛在隔開馬路與人行道的鐵馬柵上，經文處的陳艾芸副組長，波克萊台灣商會的財政羅靜春，前會長徐小玲等人都紛紛加入搖旗吶喊的加油隊中。在跑者陸續抵達終點時，加油團還為跑者送上大國旗一幅，讓他們裹在身上，舉在手中的穿過終點線，讓全世界關注波士頓馬拉松賽的人都看見了台灣。

麻州州長查理貝克促請議會全面減免稅收 提議斥資7億元協助貧困居民

Advocacy Groups Urge Passage of Baker-Polito Administration’s Tax Cut Plan

Tax Day Event Highlights Relief Proposed for Working Families, Renters, Seniors

 

BOSTON – Today, at an event marking Tax Day at the State House, several organizations urged passage of the Baker-Polito Administration’s comprehensive tax relief plan. The Administration’s proposal would provide $700 million in tax relief for low-income residents, working families, renters and seniors and would make Massachusetts more competitive. With costs for families rising across the board and the Commonwealth continuing to exceed tax revenue projections, the group urged that it is time to give taxpayers a break and pass the Administration’s proposal.

 

Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan were joined at the event by Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Eileen McAnneny, Massachusetts Society of CPAs President and CEO Amy Pitter, Retailers Association of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst, Associated Industries of Massachusetts President John Regan, and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Carolyn Ryan. AARP of Massachusetts also expressed support for components of the tax relief legislation today.

 

“With residents and families continuing to face rising costs, Massachusetts should take action and pass tax cuts that will reduce costs and give taxpayers a break,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Revenues continue to exceed expectations, so it’s time to give some of this surplus revenue back to taxpayers. We look forward to working with our partners in the Legislature to put more money into the pockets of our hard-working families and residents.”

 

“Inflation and rising prices are impacting everyone in Massachusetts, but especially low-income residents and working families,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “That’s why this tax plan is so important: it targets tax relief to the populations and communities who have been hardest-hit by both the pandemic and the ongoing pressures of inflation and rising prices.”

 

“The Commonwealth is in a historically strong fiscal position and has ample resources to continue investing in critical areas of need – like childcare, education, housing, and more – while also implementing these tax relief measures,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “The proposed tax plan will benefit hundreds of thousands of hardworking taxpayers and improve our competitiveness as a state to help ensure the continued strength of our economy in the long-term.”

 

The Commonwealth continues to face a strong fiscal picture and ended last fiscal year with a $5 billion surplus. Tax revenues in the first months of calendar year 2022 continue to exceed projections. Revenues beat projections by $856 million in January, $293 million in February and $427 million in March.

 

“MTF’s mission is about fiscal stability for the Commonwealth and positioning Massachusetts for long-term economic growth and opportunity for all,” said Eileen McAnneny, President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. “The Baker Administration’s tax package achieves both and that it is why it has MTF’s full support. Not only is it affordable, but it provides relief to our resident while signaling that Massachusetts is choosing to compete for the people and talent that are so critical to our future economic vitality.”

 

“On behalf of 11,000 CPAs and accounting professionals across Massachusetts, I want to commend Governor Baker and the Administration for filing this comprehensive and timely tax relief package,” said MassCPAs President and CEO Amy Pitter. “We’re specifically grateful for the inclusion of a provision to update the conformity date for individual income tax purposes from 2005 to 2022. Massachusetts conforms to the 2005 IRC, but most states conform to 2021 IRC, which makes us more outdated than any other state by a landslide. There is no economic or tax policy reason for Massachusetts not to update its conformity date. This low cost and necessary update will provide consistency and simplicity for Massachusetts taxpayers and streamline tax administration at the Department of Revenue (DOR), and we look forward to working with the Governor, his team and the legislature on this critical change, which we’re thankful was also included in House Ways and Means budget proposal.”

 

“Small businesses and working families are being severely hit with the regressive effect of inflation, yet tax revenues have never been better,” said Jon Hurst of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.  “The Governor’s tax reforms recognize that taxpayers and consumers of all stages of life need fair treatment from government; and as a complete package, it will make it more affordable and competitive to stay in Massachusetts.”

 

"State revenue collections have far exceeded expectations for the second year in row," said John Regan President & CEO of Associated Industries of Massachusetts. "The Commonwealth should return a portion of that windfall to assist taxpayers burdened by inflation and to stimulate the economy. Governor Baker's plan spreads the relief throughout the economy and is an equitable tax proposal."

 

“These targeted tax proposals will help create a more competitive tax environment in ways that matter for residents and small businesses,” said James E. Rooney, President & CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. “The nationwide race for talent and employers is at an all time high, and Massachusetts needs to be proactive in its efforts to retain our world class workforce, employers, and economy.”

 

“AARP strongly urges action now.  Measures such as tax credits and other financial assistance, or both, to Massachusetts 844,000 family caregivers; doubling the maximum Senior Circuit Breaker Credit; and increasing the rental deduction cap help lower and middle-income residents and their families achieve increased health and financial security and facilitate their ability to age in their own home and community,” said Mike Festa, State Director of AARP Massachusetts.

 

The plan includes several tax relief measures:

 

• Double the maximum Senior Circuit Breaker Credit to lower the overall tax burden for more than 100,000 lower-income homeowners aged 65+
• Increase the rental deduction cap from $3,000 to $5,000, allowing approximately 881,000 Massachusetts renters to keep approximately $77 million more annually
• Double the dependent care credit to $480 for one qualifying individual and $960 for two or more, and double the household dependent care credit to $360 for one qualifying individual and $720 for two or more to benefit more than 700,000 families
• Increase the Massachusetts adjusted gross income (AGI) thresholds for “no tax status” to $12,400 for single filers, $24,800 for joint filers, and $18,650 for head of households, which will eliminate the income tax for more than 234,000 low-income filers
• Double the estate tax threshold and eliminate the current “cliff effect” that taxes the full amount below the threshold
• Change the short-term capital gains tax rate to the personal income tax rate of 5% to align the Commonwealth with most other states

 

The plan would have an outsized impact on the communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the rental deduction increase would provide $34 million in annual tax relief to renters in the 20 “equity communities” that the Department of Public Health identified as having been hardest-hit by the pandemic (based on factors like social determinants of health and the disproportionate racial impact of the pandemic). The “no tax status” change to eliminate the income tax for more low-income people would result in nearly $12 million in annual savings in those same communities.

第126屆波士頓馬拉松中港台共200餘人參賽 台灣籍跑者成績最佳第108名

波士頓地區台灣同胞及學生為來自台灣的波馬跑者加油。左起為羅靜春，徐小玲，陳艾芸。
(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 第126屆波士頓馬拉松賽在4月18日圓滿落幕，波士頓體育會公佈統計數據，預告10K賽將由布里根婦女醫院贊助，定6月26日舉行，明年的波士頓馬拉松賽日期為4月17日。

              在這天氣配合的第126屆波士頓馬拉松賽中，共有25,314跑者從霍普金頓 (Hopkinton)的起跑點出發，截至下午5點35分，其中的24,918人跑過終點，完成比賽。

波士頓龍舟隊公關陳奕如(左)等人在馬拉松賽這天一大早就先趕到會場佔位子。
(陳奕如提供)

              男子組冠軍是第一次贏得波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍的肯亞人Evans Chebet，成績2小時6分51秒，在波士頓馬拉松賽歷史中，跑步成績排名第8。

             女子組冠軍是第一次參加波士頓馬拉松賽的肯亞人Peres Jepchirchir。她是歷史上第一個贏得波士頓，紐約及奧林匹克馬拉松冠軍頭銜的人，成績為2小時21分01秒。她是贏得波士頓馬拉松賽的第5名奧林匹克馬拉松賽冠軍。

              今年的波士頓馬拉松賽女子組是歷年來第6個成績最接近的比賽。Peres Jepchirchir僅以4秒之差，打敗了Ababel Yeshaneh。

莊涵婷跑完波士頓馬拉松賽後，完成大滿貫，領得六馬環。(圖片取自Line群組)

              男子輪椅組冠軍是伊利諾州的Daniel Romanchuk。這是他的第二個波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍，成績為1小時26分58秒。

              女子輪椅組冠軍是瑞士人Manuela Schar。這是他的第四個波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍，時間為1小時41分08秒。

              帕拉田徑組成績最優秀的是美國的Marko Cheseto Lemtukei，成績為2小時37分01秒。

              參賽名人中，NASCAR駕駛Matt Kenseth成績為3小時1分40秒；足球員Ethan Zohn成績5小時02分44秒。「單身漢」電視影集的前主角Matt James 成績為3小時49分38秒。

張天祿舉著國旗跑過波馬終點。(圖片取自line群組)

              在這次比賽中的榮譽隊中，健力士世界紀錄保持者Jocelyn Rivas以4小時40分47秒的成績，跑完了他的第112次馬拉松賽。在50年前於1972年舉行的第一次波士頓馬拉松賽女子組中贏得第6名的Valerie Rogosheske戴著1972的編號，由女兒Abigail和Allie陪同，以6小時38分57秒成績，在50年後的今天跑完這次比賽。

              在今年的比賽中，來自中港台三地的跑者，報名的都比實際到會參賽者多。

台灣公民部分有95個報名紀錄，實際出席參賽的55人，其中成績最好的是總成績第108名，18到39歲組蕭玉 (譯音，Hsiao Yu)，成績為2小時29分22秒。其次為總成績179名，18到39歲組朱孟宗 (譯音，Chu, Meng-Tsung) ，成績為2小時31分52秒。來自台灣的莊涵婷跑完波馬後，加入大滿貫行列，領了一個馬拉松界人士稱為甜甜圈的六牌環。

中國公民部分有198個報名紀錄，136人參賽，成績最好的是總成績198名的趙夢 (譯音，Zhao Meng)，成績2小時32分31秒，其次為總成績349名，屬於犇跑步團的陳蕭 (譯音，Chen, Xiao)，成績2小時37分40秒。在這些參賽跑者中，註明自己屬於犇跑團的有大約13人。

台灣跑者加油團拍攝的波士頓馬拉松賽現場一景。(圖片取自line群組)

香港部分，有63個報名紀錄，33人參賽，成績最好的是總成績422名的Chong, Hung Hoi Henry，成績為2小時38分58秒。其次為總成績第603名的Wong, Ka Fung，成績為2小時42分09秒。

A video highlight recap can be found here (From BAA)

來自台灣的林月玲，跑完波馬後離大滿貫就只有一馬之遙了。(周菊子攝)

新北市的高慶豐，今年抱著志在參與的心情參加，跑得很愉快。(周菊子攝)

Taiwan和北大在波馬並行。(周菊子攝)

Josh Ding和奔跑團的團友們同慶跑完今年的波馬。(周菊子攝)

波馬跑者有不少人衣服上有所屬團隊名稱。(周菊子攝)

清華校友跑場相遇握手言歡。(周菊子攝)

犇跑團有不少女團員。(周菊子攝)

清華女校友也跑波馬。(周菊子攝)

Burn據說是來自加州的跑團。(周菊子攝)

犇跑團的女團員有當波馬志工的朋友特別照顧，在終點線送上T恤保暖。(周菊子攝)

波馬跑者之一。(周菊子攝)