Secretary Beaton and Governor Baker Ceremonially Tap Sugar Maple Tree

Secretary Beaton and Governor Baker Ceremonially Tap Sugar Maple Tree

Governor Baker Declares Month of March Massachusetts Maple Month

FITCHBURG - Friday, February 27, 2015 - Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton was joined by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux, and local and agricultural officials at Hollis Hills Farms in Fitchburg to kick off the Massachusetts maple season with a ceremonial sugar maple tree tapping. The yearly event coincides with Governor Baker’s proclamation declaring March as Massachusetts Maple Month, which will culminate with Maple Weekend, March 21 – 22, 2015.

“The Massachusetts agricultural community is a vibrant part of our greater economy and culture,” said Governor Charlie Baker, “and it’s important we especially recognize the positive economic and environmental impacts our maple producers have in the Commonwealth. As we celebrate their achievements this month and throughout the maple season, I’m proud to declare March as Massachusetts Maple Month.”

“Maple syrup is the first agricultural product of the season and helps supplement the income of many dairy farms and growers across the Commonwealth,” said Secretary Matthew Beaton. “I thank Governor Baker for making the month of March Massachusetts Maple Month. By connecting consumers with producers, we can encourage economic activity in Massachusetts communities and help sustain local maple producers.”

Massachusetts is home to 280 maple syrup producers, with at least 80 that host visitors throughout the sugaring season.  Last year, 61,000 gallons of maple syrup were produced, worth more than $3.72 million.  In addition, approximately $1.9 million in revenue is generated by agricultural tourism at maple farms, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, country inns, and other attractions in farm communities.  The industry preserves more than 13,000 acres of land, helping keep Massachusetts green across the map.  

“Maple syrup is an amazing, natural sweetener, compliments of Mother Nature and our state’s sugar makers,” said DAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “The production of maple syrup is the oldest agricultural enterprise in the country and the first agricultural product of the season. Maple syrup supplements the income of many dairy farmers and growers in Massachusetts.”

“Having this event is such a wonderful opportunity for Hollis Hills Farms, and they certainly deserve it,” said State Senator Jennifer Flanagan. “Hollis Hills and our other local farmers work incredibly hard, and it is tremendously important that we support them.  Buying from our local farms is a win-win for everybody.”

"As the grandson of Italian immigrants, I was raised understanding the importance of homegrown and farm-fresh products,” said State Representative Stephen L. DiNitale. “Grown Local is becoming more and more important to consumers. Hollis Hill Farm is an example of the critical need to return to the benefits of limiting processed foods in our diet in favor of more organic or truly natural products.”

“Massachusetts’ Maple Month coincides with the time when more than 300 maple producers across the Commonwealth begin to boil the pure maple sap they have collected into delicious Massachusetts maple syrup,” said Melissa Leab, President, Massachusetts Maple Producers Association. “Many of us welcome visitors into our sugarhouses to watch and learn about this fascinating process.  Massachusetts sugar makers lead the nation in direct-to-consumer sales, and won more awards at the 2014 annual international maple contest than any other maple-producing state or region.  Enjoy this ‘sweet’ time of year, visit your local sugar maker, and enjoy Massachusetts' sweetest crop.” 

While March has earned the distinction of Maple Month, tapping in Massachusetts can start at the end of January and continue through April. For prime sugaring, nights must be below freezing and days must be above freezing. Everything from the weather, soil, and genetics of the tree can affect maple syrup flavor - like wine, flavor can differ from region to region.   

Maple syrup is an inherently sustainable agricultural product. Healthy, well maintained trees can be tapped for over 100 years. However, producers are looking into ways to make the business even more sustainable. Reverse osmosis equipment, which eliminates water from the sap and reduces boiling time and fuel consumption, is being implemented more frequently. Many sugar shacks are even installing solar panels. 

In 2014, DAR awarded $30,000 in Agricultural Energy grants to two Massachusetts maple producers in Berkshire and Franklin counties to help offset the costs of installing updated, environmentally friendly equipment, including heat recovery efficient evaporators and reverse osmosis equipment that removes half of the water from the sap, reducing boiling time and fuel consumption.  In addition to fuel savings, heat recovery evaporators also produce a by-product of hot water, enabling on-site reduction of conventionally generated fossil fuel domestic hot water production needs. A by-product of reverse osmosis is water that can also be used for cleaning purposes. Some producers have been able to reduce their energy costs by half, resulting in lower production costs and a lower carbon footprint and environmental impact.

Massachusetts will hold its second annual Maple Weekend, March 21 – 22, to highlight the wonderful, versatile products made by Bay State maple producers. The Massachusetts Maple Producers Association (MMPA) members will have events and activities to draw attention to the state’s maple producers and their products, and encourage direct-to-consumer sales. The Maple Weekend will feature open house events at sugarhouses, and special menu items made with maple syrup at local restaurants. Visitors to participating sugarhouses and restaurants will have an opportunity to learn about the sugaring process, meet sugar makers, and hear about how important it is to the local economy and environment.

To learn about sugarhouses holding open houses, and restaurants featuring menu items made with maple syrup, visit www.massmaple.org or call the Massachusetts Maple Association at 413-628-3912. Individuals seeking additional information can also visit www.mass.gov/massgrown for a complete listing of farms, sugarhouses, and restaurants.

Governor Baker Appoints Paul Sagan to Chair Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Governor Baker Appoints Paul Sagan to Chair Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Announces Transparent Process for Evaluating PARCC versus MCAS BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today announced the appointment of Paul Sagan to chair the 11-member Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).  Among other duties, Sagan will spearhead the Board’s effort to solicit public input on the Commonwealth’s upcoming choice between two alternative statewide student assessments, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). “Paul Sagan brings decades of executive and philanthropic experience to the Board, but more importantly, a deep commitment to expanding high quality educational opportunities for Massachusetts’ students, especially in our highest need communities,” said Governor Baker. “In addition to asking Paul to take on this important leadership role, I am directing Paul and the Board to initiate a series of public hearings around the state, which will solicit feedback from educators, parents, students and local officials on this Spring’s administration of the PARCC exam and the real-world impact of Common Core standards on teaching and learning,” said Baker.  “I am deeply committed to standards-based education grounded in a high-quality assessment system, which together support continuous improvement in our schools with accountability for results.  I am equally committed to a transparent and inclusive deliberative decision-making process.” “Paul understands the critical role public schools play in providing our young people with the knowledge and skills they need for future success in their pursuit of higher education and careers,” said Secretary of Education Jim Peyser. “His sense of urgency about ensuring these opportunities are available to all children is inspiring.” “I look forward to working with Paul Sagan, and I welcome Governor Baker's plans to gather additional information during our trial of the PARCC assessment,” said Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell D. Chester. “The hearings and analysis will only strengthen the Board's discussion and vote this fall." Mr. Sagan will replace BESE Board member Karen Daniels whose term expired in January. Outgoing Chair Margaret McKenna will remain on the Board; her term expires in 2019. “I am honored to be joining the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and I welcome the chance to work with the Baker-Polito administration to close the achievement gap and ensure that all students across the Commonwealth have access to a world-class public education,” said Paul Sagan. “As an immediate matter, I look forward to establishing an open and fair-minded process to inform the administration and the Board about how best to maintain and strengthen the state’s well-earned reputation for high-quality standards and assessments.” “I want to thank Karen Daniels for her dedication and hard work on behalf of the children of Massachusetts, not only through her service to the Board, but through her many years as a public school educator,” said Peyser. “I am equally grateful to Margaret McKenna for her service as board chair and I look forward to working closely with her in the years to come.” The Governor has asked the new Chair to schedule not fewer than five public hearings around the Commonwealth, starting in June, to solicit public comment from local officials, educators, employers, parents and students, specifically on the implementation of the PARCC tests this spring and the impact of Common Core and PARCC on curriculum and instruction.  In addition, the Governor also directed the Secretary of Education to convene an independent advisory group of researchers to assist him in analyzing and synthesizing the relevant studies and to design and oversee additional data collection needed to fill in gaps in the existing research, especially with regard to the predictive validity of the two competing tests. About Paul Sagan: Sagan is an Executive in Residence at General Catalyst Partners in Cambridge, MA.  From 1998 until 2013, Paul Sagan was a member of the executive team of Akamai Technologies, Inc., a leading Internet services company based in Cambridge, where his responsibilities included serving as CEO, president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining Akamai, Sagan served in various executive positions at Time Warner Cable and Time Inc., where he helped to found several Internet businesses. Sagan was also a senior advisor to the World Economic Forum, and he has served on the boards of numerous advisory panels and educational organizations including for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, the Alliance for Business Leadership, Massachusetts Business Leaders for Charter Public Schools, and the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.  In addition, Sagan is a director of three public companies with headquarters in Massachusetts: Akamai, EMC Corp. and iRobot Corp.  In addition, he is a director of VMware, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and was a Fellow at the Shorenstein Center at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. Sagan is a resident of Cambridge. About the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education: The mission of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is to strengthen the Commonwealth's public education system so that every student is prepared to succeed in postsecondary education, compete in the global economy, and understand the rights and responsibilities of American citizens, and in so doing, to close all proficiency gaps.

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES CEASE BOSTON, PART OF NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO FIGHT SEX TRAFFICKING

MAYOR WALSH LAUNCHES CEASE BOSTON, PART OF NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO FIGHT SEX TRAFFICKING

BOSTON - March 6, 2015 — Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the launch of CEASE Boston (Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation), a chapter of the CEASE Network, a collaboration of 11 pioneering cities committed to combating sex trafficking by reducing demand for buying sex by 20 percent in two years. The launch, attended by Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, Attorney General Maura Healey, and Ambassador Swanee Hunt, marks the beginning of a two-year effort to reduce demand for paid sex in Boston.

“Boston is a city that is committed to ending sexual exploitation, and CEASE Boston is one major step towards that,” said Mayor Walsh. “Human beings, particularly women and children, are being bought for sex in our own neighborhoods. In Boston, we will not tolerate this illegal and exploitative industry that deprives vulnerable people of their basic human rights and funds a predatory business often tied to gangs and organized crime.”

“The mission behind this initiative is simple: cutting off demand and limiting opportunity for exploitation,” said Attorney General Maura Healey. “While we continue to focus on improving services for survivors, addressing demand is an important part of combating human trafficking. We thank the Mayor for his leadership on this fundamental issue of public safety and human rights, and we look forward to working with him to put an end to sex trafficking in Boston.”

"The exploitative and abusive nature of the sex trafficking trade must come to an end," said Commissioner William Evans. "Far too many young women are victimized by this harmful and destructive cycle. The Boston Police Department is committed to working closely with CEASE Boston and fully support their efforts to fight sex trafficking in the City of Boston."

CEASE Boston will target the men who are buying sex on the streets, and quietly using the Internet to solicit sex. The program aims to reduce online demand activity by 20 percent, as well as street level activity by 80 percent, over the next two years. The program will be co-chaired by Donna Gavin, Sergeant Detective of Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit, and Daniel Mulhern, Director of the City of Boston’s Public Safety Initiative.  

In Boston, the two-year countdown also tracks the progress of increasing accountability measures, growing public awareness of sexual exploitation in Boston, and improving access to treatment and exit programs for both survivors and buyers. CEASE Boston will measure success by tracking trends, including attitudes related to illegal commercial exploitation; transaction trends on local websites as compared to other cities nationally; online paid sex purchasing behaviors; and efficacy of deterrent posts and public awareness intervention messages.

“While our women and children caught up in sex trafficking have limited options, sex buyers always make the choice to perpetuate a deeply damaging industry,” said Audrey Morrissey, associate director of My Life My Choice, a survivor-led organization in Boston, and a survivor herself who attended today’s launch. “Reducing demand is just one important way to end the sexual exploitation of young people. As survivors, we are leaders in a fight that we know we can win.”

"We're very excited that Mayor Walsh is so publicly committed to this issue ," says Ziba Cranmer, Executive Director of Demand Abolition, a Cambridge based program working to reduce the demand for paid sex in America. "It speaks volumes about his dedication to supporting some of the city's most vulnerable citizens. We're proud to call him a partner in our work."

Last month, the 11 cities in the CEASE Network were announced during a gathering of national anti-trafficking leaders in Phoenix, AZ.  The cities include: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago (Cook County, IL), Dallas (North Texas), Denver, Houston, Oakland (Alameda County), Phoenix, Portland (Multnomah County, OR), San Diego, and Seattle (King County, WA).

CEASE Boston is supported by Demand Abolition, a Cambridge-based non-profit, catalyzing the new initiative to forge a network of cities that are independently developing their own strategies and tactics to reduce sex-buying.

開創小生意的十個步驟講座 3/10

Via Huiming Guo

AAPI Highlights

AAPI Highlights, ­­­March 05, 2015

Welcome to this edition of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) Highlights. Below you’ll find news about WHIAAPI’s summer internship program, the President’s commitment to middle-class economics, and agency announcements.

We invite you to visit our page at www.whitehouse.gov/aapi. Follow us on Twitter at @WhiteHouseAAPI for the Initiative and @KiranAhujaAAPI for Kiran Ahuja, the Executive Director of the Initiative.

WHIAAPI offers full-time internships during the spring, summer, and fall and is currently accepting applications for its summer program. (Photo by WHIAAPI).

Calling All Students: Apply for the Summer 2015 WHIAAPI Internship Program bySunday, March 8

As America’s population becomes increasingly diverse, it is important to have this diversity reflected in the federal workforce. Although AAPIs comprise 6 percent of the U.S. population, they make up only 3 percent of the Senior Executive Service (SES), the highest ranks of federal government. As part of the WHIAAPI’s work to strengthen federal workforce diversity, we want to highlight federal internship opportunities. Internship positions are open to eligible undergraduate and graduate students, and applications are due this Sunday, March 8, 2015. Read more.

Recap: 2015 National AAPI Community Google+ Hangout

On February 25, WHIAAPI held its second National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Google+ Hangout. Executive Director Kiran Ahuja was joined by Aditi Hardikar, Associate Director at the White House Office of Public Engagement; Konrad Ng, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center; and Billy Dec, member of the President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs. Read more.

Federal Agency Spotlight: Department of Labor

In August 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published the “Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity” report which, for the first time, included unemployment rates and other important labor force information for seven Asian subgroups: Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Other Asian. Labor force characteristics can vary widely across the Asian subgroups, and regular publication of such estimates will better allow researchers, policy makers, the media, and the public to determine how various Asian subgroups fare in different labor market conditions. As such, BLS will continue to publish such important disaggregated data in this annual report going forward. To learn more about these and other DOL efforts, see the 2015 Federal Agency Accomplishments Report.

AAPI Historic Sites Campaign Webinar: March 10

Please join the National Park Service and WHIAAPI for a webinar on the AAPI Historic Sites Campaign on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET. This campaign is part of the AAPI Heritage Initiative which aims to recognize and honor the stories, places, and people of AAPI heritage as part of our entire country’s history. Register here.

Next Generation Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Leaders’ Dialogue on Higher Education Webinar: April 9

Please join the WHIAAPI and Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) for a webinar on Next Generation Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Leaders’ Dialogue on Higher Education on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET. This webinar will focus on the importance of higher education for the Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (NHPI) community. During the dialogue, Administration officials, community representatives, professors and student leaders will discuss the prevalent issues and challenges that NHPI youth face in higher education, share personal journeys of pursuing higher education as NHPI educators and students, and emphasize the pertinence of educational attainment to build a thriving NHPI community. Register here.

White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: May 12 

WHIAAPI is pleased to invite you to the White House Summit on AAPIs on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Washington, DC. The Summit will feature engaging panels, workshops, and armchair dialogues with senior Administration officials, AAPI celebrities, and well-known community leaders, plus performances by distinguished AAPI artists. The Summit will inspire participants to continue to build upon the legacy, strength, and influence of the AAPI community, especially in the final years of the Obama Administration. The Summit is part of a series of events on May 11-15 during AAPI Heritage Month in Washington, DC, and provides a unique forum to actively engage with hundreds of AAPI leaders from across the nation.  Previous AAPI Heritage Month speakers have included President Obama at the 2013 White House Celebration and Vice President Biden at the 2014 Opening Ceremony.The White House Summit on AAPIs is open to the public and free of charge. Stay tuned for details on the program in the coming months, but please visit our Summit webpage and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates. For questions, please email WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov.

White House Announcements 

Weekly Address: Ensuring Hardworking Americans Retire with Dignity

In his weekly address, the President reiterated his commitment to middle-class economics, and to ensuring that all hardworking Americans get the secure and dignified retirement they deserve. While most financial advisers prioritize their clients’ futures, there are some who direct their clients towards bad investments in return for back-door payments and hidden fees. That’s why the President announced that he is calling on the Department of Labor to update rules to protect families from conflicts of interest by requiring financial advisers to put their clients’ best interest before their own profits.Read more.

When Women Succeed, the World Succeeds: What They’re Saying About the Let Girls Learn Initiative

President Obama and the First Lady have teamed up with the Peace Corps to expand access to education for adolescent girls around the world through the Let Girls Learn initiative. 70% of the 1 billion people living in extreme poverty are women. Education can change that. Education is not a privilege, it is a fundamental human right for all. Through a global network of support, the Let Girls Learn initiative will put lasting community-led and community-generated solutions in place for the more than 62 million girls across the globe are not receiving an education. Read more.

My Brother's Keeper: A Year Later

"Helping more of our young people stay on track. Providing the support they need to think more broadly about their future. Building on what works, when it works, in those critical life-changing moments." That's how President Obama explained the My Brother's Keeper initiative a year ago when it first launched. And in the 12 months since, we've seen a tremendous response from people and organizations at all levels that are answering the President's call to action. Read more.

Agency Announcements 

Department of Education: Applying for Fulbright-Hays Grant Programs

To assist Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) with the preparation of their Fulbright-Hays Grant applications, on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 1:00 PM ET, the International and Foreign Language Office will host a webinar for MSIs with guidance about competition priorities, budget and selection criteria and other components. Register here.

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Special Enrollment Periods and Resources for the Uninsured 

Join the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Special Enrollment Periods and Resources for the Uninsured webinar on Thursday, March 12, 2015 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET. The health care law has created special enrollment periods for those who experience special circumstances such as graduating from college and losing health insurance, getting married and needing coverage for a spouse, losing employer insurance or turning 26 and losing coverage on a parent’s health plan. Join this webinar to learn more about special enrollment periods and how to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. For those who are uninsured and don’t qualify for the special enrollment period, learn what resources are available and when to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Register here. 

Small Business Administration: Affordable Care Act 101 Webinars for Small Employers, Including Nonprofit Organizations 

SBA and Small Business Majority will host a free Affordable Care Act 101 webinar so small business owners can learn the basics of the Affordable Care Act and how they can enroll in health insurance marketplaces. 

• Thursday, March 12 at 2:00 PM ET: Register here.
• Thursday, March 19 at 2:00 PM ET: Register here. 
• Thursday, March 26 at 2:00 PM ET: Register here.

Funding Opportunities

Small Business Administration: Federal and State Technology Partnership Program

The purpose of this Program Announcement is to invite proposals for funding from any public or private organization, entity or individual interested in providing assistance and guidance to small technology business concerns. Read more.

Department of Health and Human Services: “Now is the Time” Project AWARE-Community 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2015 “Now is the Time” Project AWARE-Community (Short Title: NITT-AWARE-C) grants. The purpose of this program is to support the training of teachers and a broad array of actors who interact with youth through their programs at the community level, including parents, law enforcement, faith-based leaders, and other adults, in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) or Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA). Implementation of the NITT-AWARE-C program is expected to increase the mental health literacy among youth-serving adults, policy-makers, and administrators of programs serving youth. Read more. 

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service: Labor-Management Cooperation Grant Program 

The Labor-Management Cooperation Act of 1978 identifies seven general areas for which financial assistance would be appropriate, including improving communication between representatives of labor and management and encouraging free collective bargaining by establishing continuing mechanisms for communication between employers and their employees through Federal assistance in the formation and operation of labor-management committees. Read more.

 For more opportunities, please visit Grants.gov or WHIAAPI's Grants & Resources page.

紀念國父孫中山逝世九十週年 波士頓華僑文教中心3/8展圖片

在僑委會，紐英崙中華公所等機構、個人的努力下，“築夢者孫逸仙“紀錄片，將於三月八日（週日）下午一點半，在牛頓市的波士頓華僑文教中心，做美國首映，藉以紀念國父孫中山逝世九十週年。

中華公所等主辦單位為配合紀念活動，在台北國父紀念館協助下，還將於當天在波士頓僑教中心位於牛頓市林肯街的會址中，舉辦主題 為“孫中山與台灣“的圖片展。

主辦單位指出，“築夢者孫逸仙“這部紀錄片是文化部斥資新台幣二千萬元，費時124天拍製的長達一百分鐘紀錄片，詳盡描述了國父孫中山的一生成長過程，從他出生、成長，發起革命到病逝，都有介紹。拍攝者走遍台灣，大陸，香港，澳門，英國，日本及夏威夷等地的十七個城市，一百零三個景點，訪問了五十四名學者，查察了許多珍貴史料。

圖片展裏的照片，也都是首次在美國公開露面。

波士頓的國民黨分部，榮光聯誼會，台灣同鄉聯誼會，紐英崙中華專業人士協會等機構，也都應波士頓僑務委員馬滌凡之邀，盛情加入協辦行列。

展覽活動入場免費，查詢詳情可洽  617-332-9350 ，617-965-8801，617-542-2574。

波士頓市對耆英友善 爭取全美排名第一

對耆英的友善程度，波士頓全美排第四？波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）日前在芬紐廳（Faneuil Hall)說，這不夠，要爭取排第一。

            馬丁華殊指出，波士頓市已加入世界衛生組織的“對耆英友善（Age-Friendly City）”城市活動，將盡力在交通，可負擔住宅，社交活動等等方面做改善，創造一個容許耆英們在自己家住，出入方便，又能滿足一切生活，社交，娛樂需求的環境。

            米爾肯（Milken）機構以八十四項指標，調查全美三百五十二個大都會城市，哪個對耆英最友善。去年結果是波士頓第四，排在威斯康辛州（WI）的麥迪遜（Madison），愛荷華州(IOWA)及內布拉斯加州奧馬哈，以及猶他州Provo-Orem之後。

        由於波士頓老人局和麻州大學波士頓分校的耆英人口地理分佈和社會研究中心合作研究，去年底公佈了一份波士頓市耆英人口概況報告，指出波士頓市六十歲以上人口增長快速，到2030年時，大概每五人就有一人年逾六十。換言之，將由2010年的八萬八千名耆英，增加到2030年時的十三萬人。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊指出，現代的老年人和以往十分不同，儘管年紀漸長，卻仍活力充沛，也更喜歡住在市區裏，儘管波士頓對耆英友善的名聲，早已傳揚在外，既支援耆英住在自己家裡，提供市府資助的交通服務，還有志工網，給耆英們參加各種活動，與社區互動，發揮所長的機會。

由於波市府和麻大合作的調查報告顯示，75%住在波士頓市內的耆英都是獨自居住，收入往往不足以應付生活所需，八十歲以上的居民有50%沒車，六，七十歲的人每五人就有一人覺得看病難，波市府決心加強瞭解，要讓耆英們生活愉快，必須先解決哪些問題。

波市府不但新聘了一名“波士頓對年齡友善”主任，還發出問卷，籲請耆英們填寫，好讓波士頓市府據以設計改善行動。

去年四月，馬丁華殊宣佈了波士頓市加入世界衛生組織（WHO）的“對年齡友善城市”全球網，要為波士頓市六十歲以上人口大增做準備，包括在住宅，交通，社交活動，醫療護理，公民參與，就業等方面，給予各方面協助。

馬丁華殊表示，他去年波士頓提出“容納一個改變中的城市：波士頓2030（Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030）“這住宅計畫，提出要蓋五千戶新住宅單位的想法；上個月他簽署行政命令，要讓耆英延遲繳付物業稅等，都是為了使“波士頓對年齡友善”。

圖片說明：

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）強調要讓波士頓對耆英更友善。（菊子攝）

            中華耆英會白禮頓樓主任梅麗梨（右）和波市“對年齡友善”主任Andrea H. Burns一起出席活動，探問耆英心聲。（菊子攝）