波士頓馬拉松2015年接受三萬人報名

波士頓體育協會（BAA）昨（14）日宣佈，第119屆波士頓馬拉松賽，將於2015年的4月20日（週一）舉行，並從9月8日（週一）起接受報名，今年將受理三萬人參賽。

波士頓體育協會表示，將採用與2012, 2013, 2014年波士頓馬拉松賽的同樣流程，辦理選手的參賽報名手續，容許在各自性別，年齡組別中，速度最快的符合資格者先辦理。

預定明年4月舉行的這第119屆波士頓馬拉松賽，也將是約翰漢考克金融公司第30年擔任主要贊助商。

波士頓體育協會將與沿著波士頓馬拉松路徑的麻州八個市鎮合作，目前暫定接納三萬人報名。那將是該會有史以來規模第三大的波士頓馬拉松賽。

在2009年到2013年間，參賽人數都限制在27,000左右。1966年波士頓馬拉松賽慶祝一百週年時，規模最大，參賽人數達到38,708人。該一數目讓波士頓市在馬拉松歷史中，連續七年佔據規模最大寶座。

2014年的波士頓馬拉松賽，共有36000人參加。

波士頓體育協會行政主任Tom Grilk表示，人數限制是為了讓每名參賽者都獲得一個美好參賽經驗。

2015年的波士頓馬拉松賽報名，將完全在網上辦理。有意參賽者，必須符合其性別，年齡組的時間要求。2015年的參賽資格時間要求和前幾年一樣，張貼在該會網站上http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/qualifying/qualifying-standards.aspx。

 9月8日起，比各組資格要求快20分鐘的人，可以先開始登記報名。9月10日時，如果還有空位，再開放給比各組要求快10分鐘的人報名。一週以後，如果還有空位，再開放給所有符合資格者報名參加。

2015年波士頓馬拉松賽的報名費，符合資格的美國居民$175元，國際居民$225元。

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT HOUSING IN GATEWAY CITIES

Economic Development Bill Signed by Governor Patrick Doubled Size of Annual Tax Credit Pool, Allows Larger Projects to Qualify

BOSTON – Friday, August 15, 2015– Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki today announced the start of the application process for state tax credits for developers with qualifying proposals for larger market rate housing projects in Gateway cities. The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will grant waivers to otherwise qualifying projects that exceed the current regulatory limit of 50 market rate units per project under the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP).

“An Act To Promote Economic Growth in the Commonwealth,” signed by Governor Patrick on Wednesdayprovided for a major expansion of the HDIP Program. The new law doubles the size of the annual tax credit pool from $5 million to $10 million over the next four years, and allows larger developments to qualify by eliminating the 50-market-rate unit per project cap.  While DHCD is going through the formal process of amending its regulations to conform to the new law, it will grant waivers to otherwise qualifying projects that exceed 50 market rate units.

“Housing is one of the cornerstones of a growing economy,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki. “Expanding this program is part of our overall strategy to accelerate housing development and transform these communities into great places to live, work, and play.”

“Governor Patrick and this Administration have made a historic commitment to expanding housing across the Commonwealth,” said Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein. “We are pleased to work with the Legislature to  expand this program which will allowing us to continue partnering with local developers and gateway communities creating new housing resources for all incomes.”

The economic development package builds upon on the Patrick Administration’s successful economic development strategy of investing in education, innovation and infrastructure. The law provides new tools and training to ensure the Massachusetts workforce meets the needs of employers, invests in our Gateway Cities to promote development across the entire state and provides incentives to create jobs and stimulate the economy 

HDIP is designed to help gateway cities – smaller Massachusetts cities with an industrial heritage that meet certain requirements – redevelop existing buildings into new, market-rate residential developments. HDIP provides developers with a tax credit that is worth up to 10 percent of the qualified development expenses for a project that meets the program requirements. Participating cities match this support with property tax relief to enhance the project’s viability.

Gateway Cities interested in participating in the program must submit a zone plan to DHCD for approval, execute a real estate tax exemption agreement with any developer undertaking a project and promote residential and economic development in the target area. After a zone plan has been submitted and approved, a developer must work with the city to submit a proposed project for certification, demonstrating that the project meets HDIP program requirements and that a real estate tax exemption agreement has been reached. There are 26 gateway cities in the Commonwealth.  

In November 2012, Governor Patrick announced the Commonwealth’s goal of creating 10,000 multi-family housing units per year. By creating this type of housing, which is attractive to young families and individuals, Massachusetts is better prepared to retain the skilled, young workforce which employers are seeking. 

Last fall, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki accepted a national “Workforce Housing” award from the Urban Land Institute, recognizing the Patrick Administration’s leadership in pursuing a strategy to increase the supply of housing needed, and in the places needed, for its workforce.

For more information on the HDIP program, please visit http://tinyurl.com/housingthatworks. The HDIP program is administered by DHCD and interested developers or cities should contact Miryam Bobadilla, Technical Assistance Officer with DHCD’s Office of Sustainable Communities at 617-573-1356 or atMiryam.Bobadilla@state.ma.us.

中國戲曲教授呂鎖森開講 波士頓京劇社歡喜受教

  前右起，劉瑋珊，程世君，趙鍾英，呂鎖森，朱惠元（後右一起），陳富雄，
趙進，可慶恩（後右四起），曹麗莉，周儉，王燕城，汪榮華，
楊波（後左一）等人，暢聚交流。（周菊子攝）

（Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導）波士頓京劇社（BBOA）上週末（十日）在社長劉瑋珊家舉辦年度燒烤聚餐，六，七十名京劇愛好者聽說中國戲曲學院教授呂鎖森是座上客，蜂擁而來，談身段，講舞步，唱大戲，直至深宵。

   可慶恩（右起），程世君，汪榮華，曹麗莉，劉瑋珊練唱。（周菊子攝）

            波士頓京劇社從創辦以來，社長劉瑋珊每年都在公演之前，辦一次燒烤大會，以豐富，新鮮的各色美食來慰勞所有演員，工作人員，也加強排練。該社雖然決定今年休息一年，不做公演，但既有名師來訪，當然要利用機會進修，順道大快朵頤，享受知音相聚樂趣。

            到訪的這位名師，是近年曾赴芬蘭，加拿大，挪威，英法瑞典等許多不同國家推廣京劇的中國戲曲學院教授兼導演，1964年出生的呂鎖森，以及他的副教授妻子，彈撥專業的程世君。

劉瑋珊指著身後的老照片，說明照片中人全是京劇界的老前輩。（周菊子）

呂鎖森雖然年紀還輕，但出身世家，十歲就進梨園，有導演系碩士學位，理論，實務經驗俱全，能編，會導，也演。由於他不但在央視的三國演義中演過“司馬望”，還在2003年為中國戲曲學院改編，導演過完整版京劇“霸王別姬”，隨同朱鎔基到歐洲三國訪問，為大學開過“戲曲文化鑑賞”等課程，是貨真價實行家，許多京劇愛好者聞風而來，把劉瑋珊家排練室擠到不行。

劉瑋珊指著身後的老照片，說明照片中人全是京劇界的老前輩。（周菊子攝）

        包括該社台柱汪榮華，朱惠元，可慶恩，曹麗莉，周儉，以及趙鍾英，楊波，趙進，王燕城，張勇等，當天有不下六，七十人歡聚一堂，邊享用劉瑋珊，陳富雄兩夫婦親手做的佳餚美食，邊討論京劇的戲碼，身段，舞步。夏耘向程世君討教月琴彈奏技巧後，開心得直說這趟來參加聚會，收獲太大了。

            呂鎖森當晚暢談了他近年的國際文化交流心得，包括2012年到加拿大Concordia大學開“中國戲曲文化”理論課，從戲曲歷史講到現狀，特徵，以及表演，劇本，服裝，化妝，臉譜，音樂，舞台等，“京劇表演體驗”課教唱念做打等各種基本功。他還放映了一段他教洋學生表演京劇“三叉口”的錄影片。他也講解了京劇特色，流派，當代京劇劇場觀眾構成，戲曲院校學生等概況。

                   呂鎖森教授示範舞劍。（周菊子攝）

            他不但強調京劇人物的舉手投足，衣著服飾，都有講究。身份地位或角色不同，台步，舞姿或手勢也就有異，一隨便，戲就亂套了，還親自上場示範了一段“三家店”，表演京劇中的傳統“走邊”，評點稱讚可慶恩胡琴拉得好。

            呂鎖森這趟來美，是為探望正在紐約州孔子學院教京劇樂器的妻子程世君，偷空來波士頓探望曾經同是山西省京劇院演員的劉瑋珊。

            同是京劇愛好者的這批人，暢談海內外京劇發展概況，說起越來越多西方人對京劇感興趣時，還熱絡討論起，或許有朝一日，在西方世界辦個京劇學校。

  

華人拉隊舉牌為 Stop & Shop 創辦家族後人助選

今年的麻州選舉，州長等重量級職位開戰很早，第二線的財政廳廳長，總檢察官等候選人，最近開始競選加溫，陸續有波城僑領陳毓禮為競選總檢察官的杜文（Warren Tolman），紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦為競選財政廳廳長的高柏珂（Deb Goldberg）率眾舉牌助選。

陳毓禮日前在華埠中秋節聯歡會上，聯同陳偉民，陳文棟，陳文浩等人為杜文舉牌助選。

阮鴻燦趕在風雨來襲麻州前，邀來羅祖德，林猷康，謝中之，曹品慈，曾兆漢，趙凱梨，葉福林等十幾人，在摩頓市（Malden）剛開張的稻香餐廳（yong yong）旁十字路口，為競選財政廳廳長的高柏珂（Deb Goldberg）舉牌拜票。

根據麻州州務卿辦公室資料，麻州財政廳廳長一職，因在位者葛羅斯曼（Steve Grossman）決定參選州長而出缺，目前共有四人角逐，民主黨三人，共和黨一人。其中住在衛斯理（Wellesley）鎮的賀福南（Michael James Heffernan)是唯一的共和黨籍候選人，已鐵定將進入十一月四日的大選。

民主黨部分，熱鬧的有三人參選，包括住在蔚藍市（Wayland）的麻州眾議員康洛伊（Thomas P. Conroy），住在安多福市（Andover）的麻州參議員范高（Barry R. Fingold），以及住在布魯克蘭鎮，身為“停下來買（Stop & Shop)”連鎖超市企業家族一分子的高柏珂（Deborah B. Goldberg）。

這三名候選人，最早出現在華文媒體面前的是康洛伊。今年二月昆士市慶祝農曆新年時，他就已穿梭會場拜票。范高日前也現身在華埠中秋傑聯歡會上。

高柏珂則是一早就有牛頓市議員馬惠美力挺，最近又有紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦為他拉票，還邀集多名當地華裔居民在摩頓市為她舉牌宣傳。

高柏珂的曾祖輩早年攜同時一名子女漂洋過海，來到波士頓的北端（North End）定居。起初開家小雜貨店，還忙著為陸續抵達的親戚，朋友，安排工作，住處，接著人手多了，事業擴展起來，“停下來買”超市也成型了。

在競選網站上，高柏珂指她們的家族企業主動引進了工會組織。她自己在高中時也進店裡工作，還加入成為工會一員（UFCW 1445）。後來她在店裡擔任過管理職務，從波士頓學院法律系畢業，還取得哈佛大學的企管碩士學位。

“停下來買“超市連鎖店後來經歷過接管，併購等商界波折，換過好幾種經營模式。高柏珂都無法接受，於是轉向做名公僕發展，還參與創辦過一所為有嚴重認知障礙兒童服務的學校。她也曾經當過布魯克蘭鎮的鎮議員。

早前麻州餐議會議長指派高柏珂做她出席麻州財政廳廳長辦公室聯邦公約基金的代表。

日前為高柏珂站台的羅祖德等人表示，他們認為高柏珂能夠更妥善地處理麻州的退休金。

圖片說明：

            右起，謝中之，趙凱梨，曹品慈，林猷康，阮鴻燦，朱健威夫人，以及曾兆漢（前右一），葉福林（左一）等人在摩頓市為高柏珂舉牌助選。（菊子攝）

            

B.A.A. Sets Field Size of 30,000 Entrants for 2015 Boston Marathon

B.A.A. Sets Field Size of 30,000 Entrants for 2015 Boston Marathon^®

Registration opens on Monday, September 8. The 119^th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015.

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has set a field size of 30,000 entrants for the 2015 Boston Marathon. Registration for the 2015 Boston Marathon will open on Monday, September 8, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. ET. The B.A.A. will use the same process to register qualified runners as it used for the Boston Marathon in 2012, 2013 and 2014, allowing the fastest qualifiers in their gender and age group to register first.

The 119^th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015, Patriots’ Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , and will mark the 30^th consecutive year that the event will have John Hancock Financial as its principal sponsor.

Working in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route, the B.A.A. established the field size at 30,000 entrants, which is the third-largest field size in the event’s history. From 2009 to 2013, the field size was 27,000. The Centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 had the event’s largest-ever field size of 38,708, which stood for seven years as the largest in marathon history. The 2014 Boston Marathon had a field size of 36,000.

“The B.A.A. worked with many partners for more than a year to reclaim the joy and celebration of Patriots’ Day at the 2014 Boston Marathon,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. “As we look forward to 2015, our goal is to accommodate as many participants as possible in the Boston Marathon, while maintaining the exceptional race experience and unique characteristics that make this event special. Our field size limit allows us to meet that goal, and our registration process recognizes the commitment needed to qualify and gain entry into the Boston Marathon.”

Registration will be held entirely online at www.baa.org. The qualification window for the 2015 Boston Marathon began last year on September 14, 2013. To qualify for the Boston Marathon, athletes must meet time standards which correspond to age and gender. The qualifying times for the 2015 Boston Marathon remain unchanged from recent years and are listed on the B.A.A.’s website:http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/qualifying/qualifying-standards.aspx.

Registration will occur on a “rolling admission” schedule, beginning with the fastest qualifiers. On Monday, September 8, eligible runners who have met the qualifying standard for their age and gender by 20 minutes or more may register. On Wednesday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m. ET, if space remains, registration will open for those who have met their qualifying standard by 10 minutes or more. If space remains, registration will open on Friday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET for those who have met their qualifying standard by five minutes or more. Registration will pause on Saturday, September 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET.

If space remains after the first week of registration (Monday, September 8 through Saturday, September 13), then registration will re-open for all qualifiers from Monday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. ET through Wednesday, September 17 at 5:00 p.m. ET. As during the first week of registration, race entry during this period (September 15 - 17) will be given to the fastest qualifiers in their gender and age group, as space allows. If space remains after September 17, then on Monday, September 22 registration will re-open to anyone who meets the qualifying standards on a first-come, first-served basis until the maximum field size is reached.

The registration fee for the 2015 Boston Marathon for qualifiers is $175 USD for United States residents and $225 USD for international residents.

今年麻州選民登記 8/20 截止

麻州今年的選舉，訂九月九日舉行兩黨初選，十一月四日大選。有意在初選中投票的民眾，必須在八月廿日（週三）前登記成為選民，辦妥更改投票地址，政黨登記等事宜。

            波士頓選務局為因應選民需求，將在八月廿日那天一直開門到晚上八點。五點以後抵達者，應從國會街入口進入市政府大樓，轉往241室。

             郵寄投票者，必須在信封上蓋有八月廿日之前的郵戳，並記得市政府大樓的郵遞區號是02201。選務局表示，做此提醒是因為該局往年曾見過民眾填錯郵遞區號。

            各地公共圖書館都有選民登記表供民眾拿取。

            郵寄投票表格，必須是從波士頓市政府網站上印出來的才有效。網站地址為  www.boston.gov/elections。

民眾可使用同一網站，檢閱個人的投票登記狀態。

在初選時，已聲明各人所屬黨派為民主黨或共和黨者，必須領取各自所屬政黨的選票。未登記黨派選民，可以任意選擇選票。屬於其他政黨選民，不參加初選。

             今年的麻州初選，民眾需要選擇投票的職位包括聯邦參議員，聯邦眾議員，州長，副州長，州務卿，總檢察官，財政廳廳長，稽核長，麻州參議員，麻州眾議員，以及州長委員會（Governor’s Council），以及薩福克郡的地方檢察官，治安官，遺產承辦官（Register of Probate）等。

            查詢詳情，可洽波士頓選務局 617-635-4634 ，或 election@boston.gov。

Deadline approaching to register to vote, change information for September Primary Election Day

BOSTON -- For participation in the upcoming State Primary Election, the  last day to register to vote, to change a voting address, or to change one’s political party is Wednesday, August 20, 2014. The State Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, September 9, 2014.

In order to accommodate prospective voters, the Boston Election Department in Room 241, City Hall, will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on August 20. Those wishing to register in person after 5:00 p.m. should enter City Hall from the Congress Street side (directly opposite Faneuil Hall).

Mail-in registrations must be postmarked no later than August 20. Those registrants using the US Mail should remember that the zip code for City Hall is 02201. In the past, the Election Department has seen registration forms delayed due to the use of the wrong zip code. Voter registration forms can also be found at local branch libraries.

Mail-in registration forms can be printed out from the City of Boston website: www.boston.gov/elections. Voters can also check their voting status by using the Voter Registration Search tool on the same website.   

In Primary elections, declared party members (Democrats and Republicans) must take the ballot of their political party. Unenrolled (no party) voters may choose either ballot. Voters affiliated with other political designations do not participate in Primary elections. 

The following political offices will be on the ballot this year: US Senator, US Representatives (Congressmen), Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Attorney General, Treasurer and Auditor. State Senators and Representatives will also appear on the ballot, as will the Governor’s Council. Finally, Suffolk County District Attorney, Sheriff, and Register of Probate.

For more information or any questions, please call the Boston Election Department at 617-635-4634 or email election@boston.gov.

波士頓市府免費房東講座 8/21