四月十六日波士頓下雪了

昨天是四月十六日，居然下雪了。才過了二，三天，華氏六，七十度日子的波士頓人，昨日一早出門時，竟然看到地上，車頂有層薄薄的雪。

根據國家氣象局的資料，諸如Royalston等地方甚至下了三吋半的雪。Ashfield 和Leyden都下了二吋雪。波士頓市則有大約十分之三吋雪。該局因此提醒通勤者，小心路上打滑。

            昨日下午以後，氣溫回暖十度，達到華氏42度左右。

        國家氣象局說，今日的天氣情況類似，天空清朗，但氣溫最高華氏四十度出頭，入夜後又降到冰點左右的華氏34度。週末估計會下雨，可能從週五下午就開始下，但氣溫將正常許多。

圖片說明：

            昨日大清早，停在路邊的車輛上有層薄雪。（菊子攝）

華美福利會畢業禮 131人踏上新階段

華美福利會昨（十六）日早上在塔芙茨醫療中心禮堂舉行畢業典禮。四種班別的131名學生從16名老師手中領得畢業證書，滿懷希望的踏上人生旅程另一篇。

            昨日的華美福利會畢業典禮由該會董事會董事長陳美霞主持。塔芙茨醫療中心社區健康改善主任曾雪清，波士頓市新波士頓人辦公室主任Alejandra St., Guillen應邀為畢業生講話。該會董事張大衛，Santander銀行分行經理陳蘇靜儀等多人出席觀禮。

            “下一步過渡英語項目”鄺佩霞，樓宇能源效率維修技能班Naja Abdullah，銀行及金融夜班陳晨等三人，代表畢業生致辭。

            原本擔任”Oiste”這拉丁裔民權政治組織，今年被波士頓市新市長馬丁華殊(
Martin Walsh)指派為新波士頓人辦公室主任的Alejandra St., Guillen強調，和社區機構合作，是成功關鍵。該辦公室的英語項目，從開辦以來，已為不下廿種文化的二千多名學生提供了服務，去年還獲表揚為全麻州送最多學生深造的項目。

            代表致詞學生中的鄺佩霞，今年35歲，2000年就從廣州移民來美。她當時學歷只到九年級，抵美後進餐館打工，之後結婚，生子，忙於生活，繼續深造的心願就擱置下來。如今她最小的孩子都已十三歲，母親又從中國來幫忙照顧子女，讓她終於可以撥出時間來進修。

            鄺佩霞昨日從“下一步過渡英語項目”的4A級畢業，預定四月廿八日時參加”Accuplacer”測驗，之後再看成績，決定要繼續深造英文，或開始申請入讀大專院校。

            陳晨則是來自中國天津的新移民，有國際貿易的大學畢業學歷。初抵美國時，英文的讀寫還可以，但說不來，找工作並不順利，進了購物商場當收銀員，售貨員。後來聽朋友說起，華美福利會有免費英文培訓，就報名讀了二期英文，之後再讀了十三週的“銀行及金融業”班。

            住在摩頓市的陳晨說，她簡直不敢想像，自己從學英文到進修銀行專業，前後才一年多，就在還沒畢業時，已得到一份銀行工作，下個月要進國泰銀行當貸款助理。她覺得，華美福利會有如大海中的燈塔，為許多人照亮了方向。他希望自己能做到中國諺語中的滴水之恩，報以泉湧，將來能有所成就，回饋華美與社會。

            華美福利會的教育主任Richard Goldberg，營運長Sunny Schwartz等人，同時也是英語，技能班老師。他們透露，該會今年甚至有來自摩洛哥，埃及，委內瑞拉等地的學生。

            根據華美福利會的畢業典禮節目表，該會從1967年起就致力於為弱勢群體服務，如今有多至 80個不同國籍者，使用該會的六大服務，包括教育中心，人力中心，多元服務中心，雙語雙週報舢舨，蓓蕾托兒中心，青少年項目等。昨日畢業的班別有“下一步過渡英語項目”，樓宇能源維修技能項目，汽車業夥伴教育（PACE），銀行及金融業等。

            查詢華美福利會詳情，可洽617-426-9492，或www.aaca-boston.org。

圖片說明：

            陳蘇靜儀（左起），陳美霞，曾雪清，鄺佩霞，陳晨，Saraugh Fitah等主持者，致詞者，老師，學生典禮後合影。（菊子攝）

            畢業生領證書。（菊子攝）

MASSACHUSETTS ADDS 8,100 JOBS IN MARCH

MASSACHUSETTS ADDS 8,100 JOBS IN MARCH
Unemployment Rate Drops to 6.3 Percent


BOSTON, MA – April 17, 2014 – The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 8,100 jobs in March and that the total unemployment rate dropped another 0.2 of a percentage point to 6.3 percent from the February rate.

Over the month, jobs are up 8,100 with private sector jobs up 7,800.  Since March 2013, Massachusetts added a net of 50,400 jobs: with 53,900 jobs added in the private sector and 3,500 lost in the public sector. The total unemployment rate was down 0.6 of a percentage point from the March 2013 rate of 6.9 percent rate.
BLS also revised its February estimates upward to 5,500 jobs, up from the 3,800 jobs previously reported for the month.


March 2014 Employment Overview

Education and Health Services gained 5,700 (+0.8%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 14,800 (+2.0%) jobs.

Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 3,100 (+0.6%) jobs over the month.  Over the year, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 9,900 (+1.8%) jobs.

Other Services gained 1,700 (+1.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services jobs are up 4,300 (+3.5%) jobs.

Information added 600 (+0.7%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information gained 5,000 (+5.8%) jobs.
Leisure and Hospitality gained 200 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality added 4,500 jobs (+1.4%).

Professional, Scientific and Business Services lost 2,100 (-0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific and Business Services added 14,500 (+2.9%) jobs.

Construction lost 900 (-0.7%) jobs over the month.  Over the year, Construction has added 2,300 (+1.9%) jobs.

Manufacturing lost 300 (-0.1%) jobs over the month.  Over the year, Manufacturing lost 800 (-0.3%) jobs.

Financial Activities lost 200 (-0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities lost 600 (-0.3%) jobs.

Government added 300 (+0.1%) jobs over the month.  Over the year, Government lost 3,500 jobs (-0.8%).

Labor Force Overview

The March 2014 estimates show 3,285,800 Massachusetts residents were employed and 220,900 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,506,800. The March labor force increased by 12,100 from 3,494,700 in February, as 19,200 more residents were employed and 7,200 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force was an estimated 24,500 above the 3,482,300 March 2013 estimate, with 44,300 more residents employed and 19,900 fewer residents unemployed. 

The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households. The job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers.  As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different monthly trends.

昆市 4/19 辦水災保險咨詢會

亞協服務中心每月一次免費法律諮詢服務

亞協服務中心免費提供法律諮詢服務。富有經驗的律師可為你解答刑事案件，家庭法律，移民，房租合約 和/或 人身傷害訴訟等問題。    

何時:  星期一，04/28/2014,   四月二十八日

           

律師：昆士市家庭律師 張永鏗 可為你解答有關孩子監護權或離婚問題。來自Sedna Law, P.C的 Jane Chiang 律師可以處理任何有關移民的問題。Mary Lee 律師可以為你解答業主或租客的問題。 Kenneth An和Han Fang 律師可以回答有關于就業和勞動力的問題。Kim Thai 律師可為 你解決移民及業主或租客的問題。 Jason Chan 可以處理人身傷害的問題和刑事法律。

時間：每個月的第四個星期一，下午六點到八點在亞協服務中心舉行。時間如下：

星期一，04/28/2014， 四月二十八日

星期一，06/23/2014， 六月二十三日        

星期一，07/28/2014， 七月二十八日        

星期一， 08/25/2014，八月二十五日

地點：1509 Hancock Street, Suite 209, Quincy, MA, 02169

請瀏覽我們的網站 www.quincyasianresources.org 或致電617-472-2200獲取更多信息。

亞協服務中心是一個非牟利機構，致力於促進亞裔社區的發展，以造福於整個社會。我們的工作人員和志願者可以說流利的英語，廣東話，國語，越南話和台山話。想瞭解更多關於亞協服務中心的課程和活動，請致電617-472-2200 或電郵至

info@quincyasianresources.org.

台青商 5/3 捐血

Cambridge, MA, 周三, 2014年4月16日—

新英格蘭台灣青年商會邀請您參與牛頓台灣日公益捐血活動，做個快樂的捐血人。

隨著新英格蘭進入春暖花開的季節，一年一度的牛頓台灣日也即將呈現給大眾豐富的文化表演與道地美食。今年，新英格蘭台灣青年商會、台美專業人士協會、新英格蘭玉山科技協會、新英格蘭台灣學生會聯盟、波士頓大學台灣學生會五個非營利團體將攜手合作，在牛頓台灣日舉辦公益捐血活動，為文化活動增加公益意義。

捐血有益健康，不但救人一命，更是直接幫助社群的方式。許多年輕台灣留學生向來是固定捐血者。但是來到美國就學就業之後，有些人因為交通不便、沒時間、或找不到捐血車等等原因，不得不放棄捐血的習慣。這次五個台灣團體直接將紅十字會捐血車帶到台灣日來，是回饋社群的難得機會。

請加入我們的行列，為我們的社群盡一份心力! 參與本次捐血活動的義工與捐血者將獲得 $5 兌換券一張，可於牛頓台灣日園遊會使用， Cumberland Farms 提供的免費餐盒，以及 Infusions Tea Spa、益順軒烘培坊提供的美味台灣點心。

時間:5 月 3 日 (週六), 11 am – 4 pm

地點: Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (波士頓華僑文教服務中心), 90 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA 02461

大眾運輸: MBTA Newton Highland Station (Green Line - D), 步行約四分鐘



捐血條件:

·         身體健康的男性或女性

·         年滿17歲

·         體重達 110 磅 (約 50 公斤)

·         須攜帶照片證件



主辦協辦:

·         American Red Cross 美國紅十字會

·         Taiwan Youth Chamber of Commerce of New England (TYCCNE) 新英格蘭台灣青年商會

·         Taiwanese American Professional Boston (TAP-Boston) 波士頓台美專業人士協會

·         Federation of Taiwanese Student Associations in New England (FTSANE) 新英格蘭地區台灣同學會聯合會

·         Boston University Taiwanese Student Association (BUTSA) 波士頓大學台灣同學會

·         Monte Jade of New England (MJNE) 新英格蘭玉山科技協會



活動細節請參考網頁 http://goo.gl/JzGlXA

Mayor Walsh to Appoint Jerome Smith as Director of Office of Neighborhood Services

Mayor Walsh to Appoint Jerome Smith as Director of Office of Neighborhood Services



BOSTON—Today, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that Jerome Smith will join the City of Boston as the Director of the Office of Neighborhood Services. In this role, Smith will oversee the neighborhood coordinators, helping to facilitate the delivery of services in collaboration with city departments to benefit Boston residents.



“Jerome is a skilled professional who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with neighborhood issues, large and small,” said Mayor Walsh. “With his diverse background, I know he will work tirelessly to better the living experience in our Boston communities. I’m extremely  pleased that he is joining our team.”



In addition to oversight of the Office of Neighborhood Services, Smith will serve as Mayor Walsh’s advisor on various efforts to preserve and enhance the quality of neighborhoods, develop and administer neighborhood partnership activities, and resolve problems related to code enforcement.



In 2002, Smith joined the Office of Mayor Thomas M. Menino as a liaison to the LBGT Community and representative of LBGT interests. Later, Smith served as the Chief of Staff for  City Councilor Michael P. Ross, overseeing day-to-day operations, conducting research on various policy initiatives, and negotiating district priorities. Smith currently serves as Chief of Staff to Senate President Therese Murray, responsible for all aspects of management within the Massachusetts Senate.



Smith is a 1999 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in sociology. He currently resides in Dorchester.