李海寧“讓音樂說” 為自閉症患者籌款

美中醫學交流協會會長孔學君（右）恭喜李黎，李海寧母子
音樂會成功。（圖由李黎提供

十六歲青少年李海寧（Victor Li）發現音樂對自閉症患者有特殊療效，經家人協助，五月廿四日晚在衛斯頓鎮（Weston）河流音樂學校舉辦“讓音樂說（Let Music Speak）“音樂會，吸引一百多人出席，為自閉症患者籌得一千四百多元。

李海寧是戴德姆鎮（Dedham）諾貝爾及格里諾（Noble and Greenough）學校二年級學生，彈鋼琴已有十一年歷史，從六歲起就經常在麻州音樂教師協會比賽中得獎，曾於2011及2014年贏得麻州史坦威協會（Steinway Society of Massachusetts）鋼琴比賽首獎。

李黎（右二）在兒子表演後，獻花，嘉許兒子的義行。
（圖由李黎提供）

他也是河流音樂學校（The Rivers School Conservatory）2013年協奏曲大賽的首獎得者，2014年二月二日時，和河流交響樂團在新英格蘭音樂學院的喬丹聽一起表演。

李海寧在波士頓地區曾多次公開表演。他在WGBH錄製的李斯特（Liszt）“弄臣（Rigoletto）”，幾個月前還在波士頓的古典音樂廣播頻道WCRB-FM99.5播放過。

發起“改變自閉症計畫”的羅澤堃（左），王博然（右）支持

李海寧（中）的音樂會。（圖由李黎提供）

            在研習音樂的過程中，李海寧發現，許多染患自閉症的小孩，都對古典音樂非常有興趣。他因此決定辦一場慈善音樂會，既籲請人們關注自閉症，幫助染患自閉症者發揮潛能，過更有意義的一生，也籌款資助相關活動。

            五月廿四日晚，李海寧演奏了古典鋼琴音樂家舒伯特，李斯特，海頓和拉赫馬尼諾夫的鋼琴曲，協奏曲。他希望用他靈巧的雙手和關愛之心，讓美妙音符所奏出的動人古典音樂，打動更多人發心，幫助染患自閉症的小孩。

中場時間，出席者交流。（圖由李黎提供）

            李海寧的母親，本地知名房地產貸款經紀李黎表示，美中醫學交流協會（ACMES）的治療自閉症研究所（Institute to Cure Autism），終生好友項目（Lifelong Buddy Project），身腦彈性中心（Body Brain Resilience Center），改變自閉症計畫（AutiChange Initiative），北美醫學科學雜誌（ North American Journal of Medicine and Science）等在支持自閉症上，已做了很多工作，他們很高興能有機會加入為自閉症患者奉獻一分心力的行列。

            美中醫學交流協會會長孔學君表示，她為李海寧，李黎自發的和該會“治療自閉症研究所”合作，舉辦一場支持自閉症患者的慈善音樂會，感到驕傲。該會許多會員，以及包括患自閉症兒子王睿萌的她自己一家人，當晚都出席了音樂會。

今秋將進麻州大學羅爾分校主修數學的王睿萌，當晚也在會場大廳展示了他的繪畫作品。

            在美中醫學交流協會中發起“改變自閉症計畫”的十六歲青少年羅澤堃（Andrew Luo），以及十五歲王博然（Bryan Wang），製作了有關自閉症的海報，當晚帶到會場展示。

            

            

            

            

北美中華醫學會5/30服務社區免費諮詢

北美中華醫學會（ACMA）將於五月三十日早上，在勒星頓鎮凱瑞紀念圖書館（Cary Memorial Library），九點半起舉辦醫學職業諮詢講座，十一點半起辦醫學諮詢。

            北美中華醫學會表示，由於消息公布後，社區反應熱烈，報名人數遠超預期，已把活動時間調整為如前所述。

            醫學職業諮詢部分，內容包括針對高中生及大學生的如何申請醫學院、藥學院，住院醫師培訓如何申請，以及自由問答。

在申請醫、藥學院部分，該會將請參與醫院招生，參與教學的各科臨床醫生、藥劑師及在校醫學生主講如何選修大學相關課程，建議參加哪些課外活動，如何準備入學考試（MCAT），如何申請藥學院，如何確定醫學院或藥學院，那個對自己來說是個更加選擇。

在申請臨床住院醫師培訓上，該會將以在北美以外的醫學院畢業生，以及目前在讀的醫學生為對象，請各科臨床開業醫師，以及做住院醫師培訓的醫生們講解如何準備美國醫生執照（USMLE）考試，如何寫個人簡歷，找推薦信，準備面試，並談論哪些經歷，活動有利於申請到住院醫師職位。

醫學諮詢講座部分是北美中華醫學會的社區服務項目，活動免費，但須事前上網註冊，查詢可洽Ziying Liu醫師，ziying161@yahoo.com。

北美中華醫學院將安排廿名各科專家，以中文講解糖尿病，抑鬱症，普通、心臟、神經等內科，以及消化，精神，內分泌等科目，提故免費諮詢。

現場還將有義工為出席者免費量血壓，測血糖，並根據美國心臟學會的2013年標準，以出席檢測者的總血脂，HDL血脂檢查結果，評算十年內心肌梗塞，中風的發病機率。

            活動地點在勒星頓鎮凱瑞紀念圖書館（1874 Massachusetts Ave,Lexington, Ma 02420）的大會議室。查詢詳情可上網www.acma.org。

波士頓的北京人率先舉辦微信群友燒烤聚會

波士頓北京同鄉會的“波士頓的北京人”微信群聚會合影。
（圖由波士頓的北京人提供）

波士頓北京同鄉會的微信群友，趁著長週末，五月廿三日開拔到麻州納提克（Natick）鎮的科奇維特（Cochituate）州立公園辦燒烤會，一呼百應的竟有逾百人出席。

“波士頓的北京人”群主李會銘（左起），波士頓北京同鄉會
會長趙進，謝謝”Genki Ya“壽司店老闆于捷的支持。
（圖由波士頓的北京人提供）

            昨（廿四）日，意猶未盡的群友們，紛紛向群主李會銘，北京同鄉會會長趙進，萬家網的施志敏探問，下次什麼時候再辦聚會？稱讚“利君”烤的羊肉串，趙進烤的牛肉，梁木森做的香椿麵，美味得讓人口角留香，都說這次聚會亮點多多。

           不少沒嘗到香椿的人，在微信裏哀嗟怨歎。家種香椿樹的梁木森大方歡迎群友上他家分挖樹種，一下子竟吸引了十人以上報名。

            微信在中國流行很久了，在波士頓卻是這大半年間才突然如雨後春筍，冒出數不清的各種微信群。去年十一月成立，以北京老鄉為主要對象的“波士頓的北京人“微信群，也在最近這幾個月，躍升為有群友三百四十多人的大群。

 ”Genki Ya“壽司店老闆于捷親手做的壽司。
（圖由波士頓的北京人提供）

            不少群友在群裡討論得熱絡，從懷舊，憶述當年北京種種，到談今日，遐想未來，討論為子女找夏令營，合伙創業，提議集資做土地發展，在屋斯特（Worcester）也建個中國城出來等等，什麼話題都有，在群情熱絡下，群主李會銘看著大波士頓天氣終於轉好，四月底提出在母親節辦燒烤會動議，四下商量後，才落實在五月廿三日辦。

            群主李會銘，會長趙進，萬家網的施志敏，暱稱“尚宮娘娘”等的骨幹群友們這些天分頭張羅，從製作報名表，分派食物，用品的採買，到蹭車，公園佔位子，細節好多。

            燒烤會這天，群主李會銘一大早八點多，就把爸爸媽媽一起帶到公園去，陪他一起為群友們佔板凳，佔烤爐，還即時用微信通報，公園停車費八元，能夠共乘車輛的，儘量共乘。一名體貼的群友，看到群主打點燒烤會場的微信，馬上送出一首費翔的“冬天裡的一把火”這首歌，給群主欣賞。晶盛理財的王晶拍了好多照片，和群友們實時分享。

            會長趙進帶去了牛排，李會銘準備了豬排，漢堡及熱狗，萬莉買了羊肉串，利君帶了牛肉冷片，涼拌米線，“尚宮娘娘”做了雞腿，還有人做海鮮燴飯帶去。

 萬家網施志敏體貼的送上祝賀蛋糕。
（圖由波士頓的北京人提供）

            ”Genki Ya“壽司店老闆于捷這天很給力，不但為了新鮮，材料當天買，還一早十點到會場，親自動手做壽司。許多壽司愛好者，急忙趕腳的跟去現場學。群主李會銘也很貼心，用微信視頻現場直播。

            默默支持北京同鄉會的小龍師傅，也請人送了一盤做得有如藝術品般的壽司到會場。許多人事後看到照片，也大嘆沒享到這口福。

            萬家網的施志敏不但參與策劃活動，這天還買了大蛋糕，請人寫上“祝北京同鄉會的朋友們相聚愉快”，帶到會場，許多群友稱讚真是貼心。

            透過微信群辦聚會，這個週末很流行，昨日中午是李和當群主的四川老鄉朋友大學校友麻辣群在劍橋市Danehy公園辦聚會，波士頓浙江人在劍橋中國文化中心辦聚會，東南大學校友會辦聚會。

為活動出力良多的施志敏（右），尚宮娘娘（左）。

            

小龍師傅送的壽司。

利君熱心服務，烤了十六斤羊肉串。

            

           

           

Boston's Taxable Value Surpasses $100 Billion

Boston's Taxable Value Surpasses $100 Billion Downtown development and rising housing sales drive value increases

The Research Bureau released a Special Report today, Boston's Taxable Value Surpasses $100 Billion, that examines the factors contributing to the fiscal 2015 tax rate.  Boston's fiscal 2015 taxable values rose to $110.7 billion, a $10.9 billion or 10.9% increase over fiscal 2014, surpassing $100 billion for the first time. Residential value continues to drive growth with a 12.1% increase over fiscal 2014.  Business value, which consists of commercial, industrial and personal property (CIP), increased by 8.8%.  Boston's fiscal 2015 net tax levy is $1.83 billion, an $87 million or 5.0% increase over fiscal 2014.  The property tax constitutes 67% of Boston's fiscal 2015 operating revenue budget.  Since fiscal 2009, the City's net tax levy has increased by $466.6 million or 34.2%, while Boston's net state aid has decreased by $147.6 million or 42.2% during the same period.  Other highlights of the report include: Single-family tax bill increase:  Boston's average single-family tax bill is $3,520 in fiscal 2015, a $103 or 3.0% increase over the fiscal 2014 average.  The Boston average is one of the lowest among several surrounding communities and below the statewide average single-family tax bill of $5,225.  Contributing to the City's low single-family tax bill is the 30% residential exemption which represents a tax cut of $1,880 and the application of classification which saves the average single-family home owner $2,122.   Importance of economic development: New growth of $2.1 billion represents 19.4% of the increase in property value.  Proposition 2½ does not allow the City to increase its property tax levy based on its full value increase.  Even so, new growth represented $44.5 million in new tax revenue or 50% of the total increase in the tax levy, demonstrating the importance of economic development to continued revenue growth for Boston.   Higher business tax burden: Boston's application of the classification law in fiscal 2015 benefits residential owners as the City shifts the maximum tax burden on to business property.  Residential property represents 65.3% of the City's total taxable value, but will pay 39.3% of the total tax levy.  If taxes were determined using a single tax rate with full value, business taxes would decrease by $485.6 million or 42.9% and be shifted to residential property.   Boston at a competitive disadvantage: At 67% of operating revenues, Boston relies more on the property tax now than it did in 1981, the last full year before the implementation of Proposition 2½, when the property tax represented 61% of all General Fund revenues.  Boston's inability to have more control over its own financial operations because of a restrictive home rule structure in Massachusetts puts it at a competitive disadvantage with other major cities in the country.

BCNC獲公民銀行捐款二萬五

公民銀行（Citizens Bank）的“協助公民管理金錢”計畫，最近捐款兩萬五千元，支持波士頓華埠社區中心（BCNC）的“打造更好生活（Build a Better Life）”。

波士頓華埠社區中心的“打造更好生活”項目，旨在以傳授財務知識，協助低收入家庭闢出新路，在經濟上自給自足，包括教授製作家庭預算技巧，講解財務責任等，也為波士頓及昆士市的企業家提供各種額外支援。

波士頓華埠社區中心表示，許多低收入移民家庭面對學習新語言，文化，不熟悉新環境中金融機構營運方式及作業程序的挑戰。該中心因此設計了“打造更好生活”項目，舉辦財務健康，信用，教育，職業諮詢，以及獲取更高教育機會等不同內容的講座，幫助新移民掌握管理個人及家庭財務技能，改善生活。

圖片說明：

            公民銀行新英格蘭地區公共事務資深副總裁Rick Musiol (右)把二萬五千元的支票，交給波士頓華埠社區中心行政主任李龍華。（圖由波士頓華埠社區中心提供）

Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito Memorial Day Statements

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito issued the following statements to commemorate Memorial Day:

“We gather with loved ones this weekend in honor of our fallen heroes who courageously, and beyond shadow of doubt, made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the freedoms and liberty we hold so dear,” said Governor Baker. “Our communities, our Commonwealth and our country will always remain indebted for the devotion and bravery of our servicemembers and their families.  Today, I urge everyone to find your own way to recognize Memorial Day, whether attending a ceremony, marching in a parade or spending time with family, to honor the fallen and celebrate the incredible men and women serving our great nation.”

“Today, we remember our brave men and women in uniform, and their families, for their service and sacrifice to this country,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “While Memorial Day offers a unique chance for our communities to join together and celebrate our incredible servicemembers, let us never forget to honor those who selflessly devoted their lives to protect our homeland.”

In honor of Memorial Day, Governor Baker has ordered that the United States flag and the Commonwealth flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise until noon and full staff from noon until sunset on Monday, May 25th, 2015. The order applies to the main or administration building of each public institution of the Commonwealth, other state-owned or state-controlled buildings and all state military installations.

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT WITH RADIOSHACK OVER THE SALE OF CUSTOMER DATA

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT WITH RADIOSHACK OVER THE SALE OF CUSTOMER DATA

Multistate Agreement Protects Consumer Privacy in Connection With RadioShack Bankruptcy

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey joined a coalition of states in announcing a settlement with RadioShack which will limit it from transferring certain customer data in connection with the company’s federal bankruptcy court proceedings. 

As a result of their opposition to the sale of data from millions of consumers, AG Healey, along with 37 other states, filed an agreement that will prevent its new owner, General Wireless Operations, Inc., from gaining access to any sensitive information, such as credit or debit card information, social security numbers, telephone numbers or dates of birth.

“Millions of customers provided their personal information to this business with the promise of limited use and safekeeping, and should be able to trust representations made to them in privacy policies,” AG Healey said. “We are pleased that the new operators of RadioShack will respect the promises previously made to these customers regarding their personally identifiable information.”

Yesterday, the federal bankruptcy court in Delaware approved General Wireless to purchase RadioShack’s entire e-commerce business, intellectual property, and remaining assets, which include certain customer data significantly limited by this settlement.

General Wireless will be permitted to retain only the email and postal mailing addresses previously given by RadioShack customers requesting product information. Out of the 8.5 million customer email addresses in RadioShack’s files, the agreement limits the number of email addresses to those obtained during the past two years. Impacted customers will be provided the opportunity to opt out before their email addresses are transferred, and will be sent an email notifying them of this right.

General Wireless will continue to employ approximately 10,000 former RadioShack employees and operate more than 1,700 RadioShack stores nationwide. Under the terms of the settlement, any customer receiving postal mail from the new RadioShack will also be able to opt out of future communications from the company. Additional information regarding customer opt-out will be available on RadioShack’s website.

Out of the 117 million customer files originally available for sale, no more than 67 million will be purchased by General Wireless and the rest will be destroyed by RadioShack. Importantly, General Wireless will be prohibited from selling or sharing any customer information it has purchased in the future with any other entity, including its new co-branded business partner, Sprint Communications.

This matter was handled for Massachusetts by Assistant Attorney General Francesca L. Miceli of AG Healey’s Consumer Protection Division