麻州第30屆番茄比賽

Massachusetts Tomato Contest Draws 135 Entries

Farmers from North Easton, Concord, Hardwick, Sharon and Pepperell take top honors at 30^th annual event

BOSTON – Monday, August 18, 2014 – Massachusetts environmental officials joined tomato farmers from across the state at the Boston Public Market today for the 30^th Annual Tomato Contest. A highlight of the summer harvest season, this year's contest drew 135 entries in categories including field tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, heirloom varieties and heaviest tomato.

“The Patrick Administration has helped the agriculture industry grow by investing millions into preserving farmland and teaching valuable business and technical skills to our farmers,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Undersecretary for Environment Martin Suuberg. “Today we celebrate the fresh produce that millions across the Commonwealth can enjoy, while at the same time support the farmers in their communities.”

Entries were judged by a panel of food writers, chefs, produce experts and state officials on flavor, firmness, exterior color and shape. Top prizes went to farmers from North Easton, Concord, Hardwick, Sharon and Pepperell. A full list of contest winters is attached.

“Today is a celebration of the harvest season and our dedicated farmers here in the Commonwealth," said Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) Commissioner Gregory Watson. “The tomatoes brought to Boston were the result of months of our growers’ hard work and care.”

Of the more than 7,700 farms in Massachusetts, 759 annually produce more than 8.5 million pounds of tomatoes on 685 acres with a value of approximately $17 million.  The Patrick Administration is committed to growing the agriculture economy.  More than $55 million has been invested in the APR program, resulting in the permanent protection of more than 180 farms and more than 10,000 acres. In addition, $7 million has been put towards farmer training, business development, on-farm energy efficiency and more. The Commonwealth has also launched one of the nation’s first state-funded urban farming initiatives, ranks fifth in the nation for direct market sales, hosts 134 farmers’ markets that accept SNAP and since 2007 has seen a 95 percent increase in Community Supported Agriculture and growth in agri-tourism sales of 127 percent.

In addition to the presentation of awards, today's event included tomato tasting and recipe demonstrations, as well as information on nutrition and local farms. The contest was hosted by the Boston Public Market Association and is sponsored by DAR, the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association and Mass Farmers' Markets.

2014 Massachusetts Tomato Contest Winners

Slicing Category
Farm Name	Town		Variety			Place
Langwater Farm	N. Easton		BHN 589			1
Macone Farm	Concord		Belgium			2
Langwater Farm	N. Easton		BHN 1021			3
Brox Farm	Dracut		Applause			4
MacArthur Farm	Holliston		Tomomaro Muchu			5
Ward's Berry Farm	Sharon		Scarlet Red			6
MacArthur Farm	Holliston		Geronimo			7
Macone Farm	Concord		Mountain Magesty			8
Kimball Fruit Farm	Pepperell		Sunbrite			9
East Street Farm	Tewksbury		BHN 961			10
Cherry Category
Farm Name	Town		Variety			Place
Still Life Farm	Hardwick		Orange Sun Sugar			1
Langwater Farm	N. Easton		Sungold			2
Macone Farm	Concord		Sunpeach			3
Frietas Farm	Middleboro		Sungold			4
Macone Farm	Concord		Sungold			5
Verrill Farm	Concord		Sungold			6
Idlywilde Farm	Acton		Strawberry Husk			7
Frietas Farm	Middleboro		BHN 968			8
Farmer Daves	Dracut		Sungold			9
Ward's Berry Farm	Sharon		Sweet 100			10
Heirloom Category
Farm Name	Town		Variety			Place
Langwater Farm	N. Easton		Striped German			1
Verrill Farm	Concord		Brandywine			2
Macone Farm	Concord		Mr. Stripey			3
Macone Farm	Concord		Pondarosa Pink			4
Farmer Dave's	Dracut		Cherokee Purple			5
Kimball Fruit Farm	Pepperell		Aussie			6
Macone Farm	Concord		Macone Farm			7
Red Fire Farm	Granby		Granny Cantrell's German Pink			8
MacArthur Farm	Holliston		Arkansas Traveler			9
Farmer Dave's	Dracut		Striped German			10
Heaviest Category
Farm Name		Town		Variety	Weight			Place
Verrill Farm		Concord		Aussie	2.785			1
Ward's Berry Farm		Sharon		Church	2.635			2
Kimball Fruit Farm		Pepperell		Virginia Sweet	2.460			3
Red Fire Farm		Montague		Striped German	2.450			4
Macone Farm		Concord		Mr. Stripey	2.425			5
Langwater Farm		N. Easton		Mortgage Lifter	2.365			6
Silverbrook Farm		Dartmouth		Pineapple	2.340			7
E. Cecchi Farms		Feeding Hills		Hillbilly	2.180			8
Clark Farm		Danvers		Striped German	2.045			9
Farmer Dave's		Dracut		BHN 961	1.905			10

8/17 免費小巴昆市觀光遊

免費小巴遊﹕ 觀光“新”昆士 (明天 - 8/17/2014)
正午12 時在昆士市府出發, 之後每半小時開車至下午 2:30
"Sightseeing on Wheels - Tour of the New Quincy" - tomorrow, Sun., 8/17. First come, First Served.
(Tours begin at 12pm at Quincy City Hall and every half hour until 2:30pm.)
Over 50 slides will be on display at the City Hall plaza. 
COME ONE, COME ALL. Slide preview - "Tour of the NEW Quincy" (Pls. see attachment)

八月十七日第二十七屆昆士市中秋聯歡會

亞協服務中心(QARI)主辦的第二十七屆昆士市中秋聯歡會，將於八月十七日（週日）早上十一點至下午五點，在昆士市中心的興國街 1400 至 1600 號舉行。

亞協服務中心表示，昆市中秋節聯歡會是南岸地區一年一度的最大型戶外文化活動，估計當天會有超過一萬兩千人參加。

聯歡會當天將有各種唱歌，舞蹈，吟詩，誦詞等文化表演，也闢有美食區，流動餐車，讓出席者大快朵頤。

南岸青少年中心(YMCA) 將負責兒童手工藝及遊戲活動，並提供適合各種年齡的健康推廣活動。

會中也將有攤位提供選民登記信息，並為民眾提供如何尊重和處理美國國旗等相關知識。

在 Ross Parkingway 和興國街，以及 Hannon Parkway 之間的場地，將設為第二個中秋節聯歡會場區，安排有吃西瓜比賽，機動遊戲，擲球人落水等有趣遊戲。籌得的款項，將由亞協服務中心用於辦理各類項目和服務。

查詢詳情可上網www.quincyasianresources.org。

六名麻州長候選人談移民議題各有所見

麻州難民移民援助處（MIRA）等約七個機構合作，十三日晚在邦克丘（Bunker Hill）社區學院舉辦不分黨派州長候選人論壇。六名出席候選人都贊成整合，認為應把移民融進大社會中，應協助移民獲取政府提供的服務，要保障道路安全，應發駕照給通過資格要求者，但談及具體政策措施，意見頗為分歧。

        論壇主題為“影響移民社區的議題”，由WGBH-FM資深調查記者菲利浦馬丁（Phillip Martin）主持，共有葛羅斯曼（Steve Grossman)，柯克莉（Martha Coakley），貝里克（Don Berwick）等三名民主黨，費卻克（Evan Falchuck），麥可米（Jeff McCormic）等二名獨立無黨派，以及馬克費雪（Mark Fisher）這一名共和黨的共六名候選人出席。為因應各候選人的時間，論壇採取一對一，輪流上台方式進行。會場來來去去，將近有兩百人出席。

            主辦單位事先安排，請各候選人就四個議題發表政見，一為執法，種族刻板印象，家庭分隔；二為包括語言的包容性獲取州政府服務；三為新美國人議程；四為安全駕駛。

            四名邦克丘社區學院學生在論壇結束後表示，他們認為，候選人中的葛羅斯曼最有想法，提及的經濟發展措施，對移民最有利。這四名學生，兩人為在美出生的移民第二代，兩人為分別從日本，中國來美半年及二年的國際學生。

            葛羅斯曼在會中重申他家的移民歷史，以及移民創業的重要，他強調自己支持信任法，容許移民不論身份都可申請駕照，

            部分出席者表示，候選人中，貝里克，費卻克都對議題有深入了解。

            貝里克是當晚首名發言者。他指出，西班牙裔高中生輟學率高達25%，大都是因為語言障礙，麻州新創企業中，有60%是由第一代移民創辦，可見重視移民對麻州會有多大的好處。他的支持州內居民學費，信任法案，即使是非法移民也給駕照法案等，固然獲得場內好評，但最打動當晚大多數出席者的是他強調自己參選的使命，是要抒緩，終結貧困。

            本身是委內瑞拉（Venezuelan）白人移民之子的費卻克指出，警察在路上截停有色人種的比率，遠比截停白人，也就長得像他那樣的人高這情況本身就是一個社會問題。他認為無論是在改善生活，或改善經濟上，政府都可以發揮很大的作用，關鍵是要制定好的做法。

        柯克莉是當晚最後一個到會發言者。她認為社會要包容，無論是醫療保險，教育，社會服務，每個合法居民都有權獲得政府提供的服務。她還強調自己在打擊人口走私上所做的努力，指出早前，全美只有三州沒有反對人口走司法，麻州就是其中之一，經過該辦公室的努力，現在麻州也跟上了時代。

            當晚唯一的共和黨籍候選人馬克費雪，發言內容也最不同。費雪認為應該幫助移民學好英文，以融入美國這個社會。一旦移民的英文流暢了，所有的因語言障礙等所造成的獲取社會服務不公平狀況，應該會自然消滅。談及費奇堡市的Josue可能被遣返，他家的五個小孩出現經濟窘況，費雪只說，遣返必須要有理由，非法進入美國，應該是其中之一。

        邦克丘（Bunker Hill）社區學院院長余慕潔在論壇結束後表示，該校有很多學生來自移民家庭，在該校舉辦以移民為主題的候選人論壇，再適合不過。她很高興該校師生及社區人是有機會親耳聽到各候選人對移民相關議題的看法。

圖片說明：

            右起，麻州難民移民援助處（MIRA）主任米樂娜（Eva A. Millona），共同主席Jeff Gorss，WGBH-FM資深調查記者菲利浦馬丁（Phillip Martin），邦克丘（Bunker Hill）社區學院院長余慕潔在論壇結束後合影。（菊子攝）

            柯克莉是麻州州長候選人中的唯一女性。（菊子攝）

        右起，日裔的Ryoko Yamaguchi，住在劍橋市的Drina Doley，來自上海的馮澄，祖籍薩爾瓦多的Isaac Cavballo等人都欣賞葛羅斯曼（中）的想法，意見。（菊子攝）

            麥可米(Jeff McComic)表示，要讓移民都能實現美國夢。（菊子攝）

蘭亭雅聚談顏真卿 賞古碑拓帖

大波士頓地區書法愛好者組成的“蘭亭雅聚”，日前邀宋向陽以“顏真卿的告身貼”為主題，在傅萊明罕公共圖書館裏談歷史，說書法。在哈佛大學任教的高翔帶來許多珍貴拓帖，供出席者賞評，助興。

            宋向陽本人是生化理工學者，家學淵源，從小就喜愛書法，不但自己提筆寫書法，更愛看帖，鑽研書法相關歷史，文物。顏真卿是他非常喜歡的其中一位書法家，前一陣子有不少書法界人士重新談起顏真卿劉傳後世的”自書告身“到底是不是真跡，日前的這場講座，他特地挑了這題目來申論。

            宋向陽以圖片展示了顏真卿寫於”建中元年八月廿五日“的自身告書，解釋唐代在皇帝之下，有門下，尚書，中書等三省，吏，戶，禮，兵，刑，工等六部的三省六部體制。唐代的官階職位分九品，太子少師是從二品，排名第四高的職位。唐代有告身制度。告身又稱官告或官誥，是唐代重要的授官文書，不論什麼職位，凡是授官，都必定發給告身。朝廷發出的告身原件，必有尚書省吏部或兵部的官印。這告身書還在持有人涉及刑罰時，得以抵減罪刑，或免除課役等，在當年可算是很重要的法律文書。

            宋向陽介紹完告身書的背景後，以印鑑，字體，以及米友仁，蔡襄，董其昌等人的跋等為證據，表示他認為日本東京中村不折書道博物館裡收藏的顏真卿“自書告身”是真跡。他指出，中國有許多歷代流傳的古物，由於各種因素，流落在海外。中村不折書道博物館，雖然很小，很不起眼，就收藏有不少中國古代書法真跡。他鼓勵到日本一遊的書法愛好者，應撥冗前往參觀。

            當天還有在哈佛大學任教的書法名家高翔，帶了許多珍貴書法名碑原帖，供出席者賞評，包括韓仁銘碑，豆盧氏墓誌，楊大眼造像，魏靈藏造像（兩碑屬龍門四品），袁安碑，漢甘陵相尚府君碑，史晨碑等，以及他十多年前臨刻的趙之謙印章“金石錄十卷人家”。他還介紹了印章的篆刻等知識。

            包括中華書法會共同會長陳起怡，主持人孫志勝等許多人，對他們當天欣賞到那麼多珍貴書帖，都大感興奮。

            查詢蘭亭雅聚詳情，可洽孫志勝zsun98@gmail.com。 

 圖片說明：

            高翔（右）帶了許多名碑拓帖到場供大家欣賞。（菊子攝）

            蘭亭雅聚的部分出席者一起賞評高翔帶來的碑帖。（菊子攝）

            宋向陽對顏真卿頗有研究。（菊子攝）

            左起，孫志勝和陳綺怡等人談起寫書法，先磨墨。（菊子攝）

BRA approves $160 million new projects to add 280 residential units

BRA Board approves $160 million in new projects that will add 280 residential units at August 14 meeting

Also passes enhanced policies to improve disclosure and transparency; authorizes secondary audit of BRA’s Planning Division

Last night, the Board of Directors for the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) approved three development projects and authorized several other significant policy and planning initiatives. The three approved projects, which will put more than 480 trades people to work, represent over $160 million of new investment in Boston’s neighborhoods and will total over 400,000 square feet when constructed. Two of the projects will add a combined 280 units of new housing in Brighton and South Boston.

Boston Landing project adds residential and retail components, modifies plan for sports facility

Total Project Cost: $125,000,000

Total SF: 310,000

Construction Jobs: 378

The BRA Board approved the third amendment to the Planned Development Area (PDA) for Boston Landing, a mixed-use development of office, retail, sports facilities, hotel, open space, and parking adjacent to the New Balance world headquarters. Originally approved as a Master Plan PDA in June 2012 by the BRA, the latest approvals allow the developer to construct 250 units of housing at 125 Guest Street with the goal of creating a truly mixed-use district that will foster an 18-hour a day live/work environment. To compliment the new residential component, the Board also approved an additional 15,000 square feet of retail space at the site.

The project proponent secured additional approval to modify the planned sports facility at Boston Landing in order to accommodate basketball and hockey uses. It was reported in July that the Boston Bruins signed a letter of intent for a long-term lease of the hockey rink to serve as the team’s new practice facility starting in 2016.

Guidance from the Brighton/Guest Street Planning Study laid the foundation for a new vision for this important neighborhood corridor. Boston Landing LLC is the developer and HYM Investments is the co-developer. Elkus Manfredi is the project architect.

30 B Street brings new market rate and affordable housing to South Boston

Total Project Cost: $13,000,000

Total SF: 40,060

Construction Jobs: 39

The BRA Board approved the construction of 32 condominiums, four of which will be affordable units, at 30 B Street in South Boston. The project at the corner of B Street and West Sixth Street will raze three existing one-story structures to make way for a five-story residential building that includes 33 on-site and off-street parking spaces, enclosed bicycle parking, and open space improvements. The transit-oriented development will be within walking distance of the Broadway Station on the MBTA Red Line and will be served by three bus lines that provide transportation to downtown Boston, Cambridge, and other areas of South Boston.

As currently proposed, the development includes ten one-bedroom units, fourteen two-bedroom units, and eight three-bedroom units. In addition to the four on-site affordable units, the developer will contribute $40,000 to the City’s Inclusionary Development Policy Fund for affordable housing.

GFC Development, Inc is the project developer, and Embarc Studio Architecture + Design is the architect.

KIPP Academy Boston Charter School in Mattapan will serve K-8 students

Total Project Cost: $22,500,000

Total SF: 53,000

Construction Jobs: 68

After operating out of two temporary spaces in Jamaica Plain and Roxbury since 2012, the BRA Board approved a project that paves the way for KIPP Academy Boston Charter School to take up a permanent home in Mattapan. KIPP Boston Fund, Inc., the project developer, will construct an approximately 53,000 square foot school at 1464 Blue Hill Avenue that will include a four-story classroom building, a two-story cafeteria and administrative offices, and a one-story gymnasium to serve elementary and middle school students. The school is designed to house up to 650 students and 84 faculty and staff.

The gymnasium, which will provide students with opportunities for physical activity and have the ability to accommodate large assemblies, will have a separate access to allow for community uses during non-school hours. Located adjacent to the MBTA Fairmount Commuter Rail Line, the school will also include a protected outdoor play area on the northern side of the site.

Arrowstreet is the lead architect, and Copley-Wolff Design Group is the landscape architect on the project.

P-3 Partners, LLC granted extension of tentative designation for Tremont Crossing

In June, the BRA Board voted to extend the tentative designation of P-3 Partners, LLC as the redeveloper of Parcel P-3 in Roxbury until August 14, 2014. The extension was intended to offer the developer additional time to secure tenants and financing.

BRA staff in the departments of Finance, Economic Development, and Planning and Urban Design met with members of the P-3 Partners team during this time and noted elements of progress while also providing guidance for the proposed Tremont Crossing project. Given the complexities of the project, the BRA Board voted to extend the developer’s tentative designation by an additional month. By September 18, 2014, P-3 Partners is expected to be able to articulate a clear funding plan and demonstrate concrete interest on the part of prospective retail, office, and commercial tenants.

New policies adopted to improve transparency in land takings and transfers, Planned Development Areas, and disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

The BRA has been exploring ways to improve transparency throughout the agency, and the Board last night voted to approve several new guidelines to further this goal.

Typically the BRA’s land disposition process includes a Request for Proposals (RFP) and a community process that allows for input from stakeholders. In the rare instances when an RFP is not issued and a community process does not occur, the BRA will implement measures that allow stakeholders to provide feedback about proposed land dispositions. Developers requesting takings and transfers will now be required to provide the BRA with a map and description of the proposed project and their strategy for redevelopment. Land transfers involving BRA-owned parcels will be subject to the same documentation requirements. This information will be made public on the BRA’s website, and staff will advertise for and host a public meeting regarding the proposed actions, followed by a public comment period lasting ten business days after the meeting. Comments will be reviewed by staff and reported to the BRA Board before any further actions are taken.

The BRA Board also approved a policy to improve the integrity of special zoning overlay districts known as Planned Development Areas (PDAs). A PDA is designed to accommodate large-scale, complex developments that do not necessarily conform in uses or scale with existing zoning. The PDA provides greater flexibility in zoning as well as public benefits for the surrounding community and neighborhood. PDAs were never intended to be used as a way of avoiding the Zoning Board of Appeal, however, and the newly enacted policy will help preserve the original intent of the mechanism by strengthening the criteria for how and when PDAs are granted.

 Finally, the Board took action to help better identify potential conflicts of interest during the Article 80 development review process by requiring project proponents to submit more thorough and timely disclosure statements. A loophole in the current policy makes it possible for a project to gain Article 80 approval without the BRA knowing of all of project investors or potential conflicts of interest. The new disclosure statements mandate that anyone with a beneficial interest in significant development projects identify the extent of their interests at the outset of the Article 80 process. In doing so, the BRA hopes to foster public trust and minimize conflicts of interest.

Secondary audit of BRA’s Planning Department set to move forward

The BRA Board approved a request from Acting Director Brian Golden to engage an outside consultant to complete an end-to-end audit of the BRA Planning Department’s activities, processes, and procedures, as recommended by KPMG’s audit of the BRA that was completed and released by Mayor Martin J. Walsh in July.

 With the Board’s approval to proceed, BRA staff will now develop a scope of work to help guide the independent consultant and begin to evaluate potential firms to complete the project. While a target completion date for the review has not yet been identified, Acting Director Golden and senior staff will continue to implement reforms to improve transparency and accountability at the agency in the meantime.