波士頓公校畢業生可免費升讀的社區學院增至3所

(Boston Orange)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)今(30)日宣佈，波士頓市的免學費社區學院計畫擴增為3所了，包括新加入的麻州灣區社區學院(MassBay Community College)，都可讓符合資格的波士頓公校畢業生最多3年，免費上學。 麻州灣區社區學院是一所有55年歷史，多個校園的學校，幫助學生做好轉學進4年制大專或大學，直接就業，或只是接受持續教育。 該校校長David Podell表示，在提供可負擔的上大學高品質通道上，該校有很長的歷史。 波士頓市另外兩所為波士頓公校畢業生提供免學費優惠的學校是邦克丘(Bunker Hill)社區學院，以及洛士百利(Roxbury)社區學院。麻州灣區社區學院的加入，將容許學生們在研修科目上有更多選擇，包括汽車科技，室內設計，市場行銷。 波士頓市長是去年春天推出這免學費社區學院計畫的，旨在幫助更多波士頓公校學生能夠上大學，完成學業。在計劃實施的第一學期，共有41名學生註冊。在這項目有更多人知道後，相信報名的人會更多。 免學費社區學院計畫是波士頓市長人力發展辦公室，和波士頓計畫發展局，鄰里就業信託委員會合作辦理的。 查詢相關詳情，可上網http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/tuition-free-college。 MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF TUITION FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

With addition of MassBay, three options now available for BPS graduates

BOSTON - Friday, December 30, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston's Tuition-Free Community College Plan, which pays for up to three years of community college for eligible Boston Public School graduates, has expanded its participating schools to include MassBay Community College. "I'm proud to announce the addition of MassBay to Boston's Tuition-Free Community College Plan. We're committed to increasing access to higher education and providing more pathways to economic stability for all of Boston's students," said Mayor Walsh. "Now, with an increase in location and program options, this plan opens more doors for young people to learn and develop the skills necessary to join Boston's talented workforce." MassBay Community College is a multi-campus college with a 55-year history of preparing students for transfer to four-year colleges or universities, direct entry into the workforce, and ongoing education. "MassBay has a long tradition of providing affordable, high-quality pathways to top-notch bachelor degree programs and meaningful careers," said Dr. David Podell, president of MassBay Community College. "We are thrilled to partner with the city to increase college access and expand options for the Boston students who need it most." The Tuition-Free Community College Plan had previously only enrolled eligible students attending Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) and Roxbury Community College (RCC). The inclusion of MassBay Community College provides plan enrollees with greater choice of both location and academics. MassBay operates campuses in Wellesley, Framingham and Ashland.  MassBay also adds more available programs of study, such as automotive technology, interior design and marketing. Mayor Walsh announced the launch of the Tuition-Free Community College Plan last spring with the goal of helping more Boston students afford and complete college. In order to assist students in completing college, the plan matches all enrolled students with Success Boston coaches who can help them navigate the challenges of higher education. In its first semester, the Tuition-Free Community College Plan has enrolled 41 students, a number that is expected to rise as the plan's benefits become more widely known. The Tuition-Free Community College Plan is funded by the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD) part of the the Boston Planning & Development Agency, and the Neighborhood Jobs Trust, a public charitable trust fed by linkage fees generated by large-scale commercial building projects in the city. "Providing opportunities for Boston's residents to attend community college tuition-free is a direct benefit of Boston's building boom and strong economy," said Director of the Boston Planning and Development Agency Brian Golden. "We know that there are profound benefits - economic and otherwise -  to the recipients of community college degrees throughout their lives. I am pleased we are able to use funds from the Neighborhood Jobs Trust to make positive investments that will have long lasting impacts in our community."   To learn more about the Tuition-Free Community College Plan, or to apply, please visit: http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/tuition-free-college

Quincy Saves Program a Success More than 900 Quincy Households receive Energy Upgrades

Quincy Saves Program a Success

More than 900 Quincy Households receive Energy Upgrades

In 2016, Quincy Saves helped nearly 1,000 families save energy and money at home.  The City of Quincy kicked off this program last January with the goal of completing 701 home energy assessments. The Quincy Saves program surpassed this and many more energy efficiency goals in October, including insulating over 200 homes, replacing 100 older heating systems, etc.. Final numbers will be tabulated soon.

Reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions is a priority for the coastal community of Quincy, where rising sea levels and increasing severity of storms have a strong impact.  Participants lowered their electricity and gas use and their bills, and helped slow the advance of climate change.

Quincy Saves thanks all of the households who helped to lower Quincy’s impact on our environment through this program. Each home benefitted from a no-cost Mass Save Home Energy Assessment, which offers free LED light bulbs, programmable thermostats, and rebates toward high impact projects, including up to $2,000 toward insulation.

How much energy has Quincy Saves conserved this year? Simply switching out old light bulbs for more efficient bulbs has saved more than $200,000 total for city residents. This measure alone has reduced Quincy’s greenhouse gas emissions in an amount equivalent to taking 200 cars off the road for a whole year!

“While the yearlong Quincy Saves program is officially over now, I continue to encourage all households to get a Mass Save Home Energy Assessment soon.  Reducing energy use, lowering your impact on the environment, and saving money are always a good idea.” says Shelly Dein, Quincy’s Energy and Sustainability Director. “Households who had home energy assessments in the past should have new assesssments done every few years because technologies change as do the conditions in your home as weatherstripping wears out and heating systems age.”

The City of Quincy, in partnership with Homeworks Energy and the non-profit HEET, would especially like to thank those in our community who graciously hosted our Quincy Saves outreach table many times throughout the year. Their generosity made this program possible and made a real difference in the community:

·        Good Health Natural Food

·        New York Mart

·        Thomas Crane Library

·        Kam Man Food

·        Eastern Bank

·        Stop & Shop

·        Star Market

·        Mignosa’s Fruit Basket

·        Quincy Farmers Market

·         

Do you want to save energy at home and save money? It is not too late to make a difference by signing up for the ongoing Mass Save Home Energy Assessment program at www.homeworksenergy.com or by calling (781) 305-3319.

吳新興勉台灣青年赴海外瞭解僑務工作

僑務委員會30日舉辦105年華僑事務研究碩博士論文獎頒獎儀式，委員
長吳新興（第一排中）與獲獎學生、指導教授及僑委會主管合影。

 僑務委員會委員長吳新興30日頒發105年華僑事務研究碩博士論文獎時表示，僑委會明年將推動暑期大學生東南亞志工團，並遴選清寒學子赴海外僑界壯遊，以及建立海外僑校師資媒合平台，讓台灣年輕人能走出去看世界，同時認識台灣鄉親在海外打拼的成果。

僑務委員會委員長吳新興（中）30日與獲得105年華僑事務研究
碩博士論文獎的碩士班同學合影。

吳新興提到，華人移居世界各地已有數百年的歷史，每位僑胞的旅外經歷都是一段動人故事，也是華僑事務研究的好題材。非常樂見國內學者及學生投入僑務學領域，透過專業學術研究，探討海外華人遷徙、在僑居地的影響及對台灣的認同等議題，正可為僑務政策提供深度觀點及未來方向，助益僑務工作的推動。

吳新興表示，僑委會也思考如何運用僑界資源，協助台灣青年的發展，因此明年將就3個方面連結台灣青年與海外僑社。第一是招募國內大學生籌組志工團，在暑假前往東南亞僑社服務。第二是推動青年海外搭橋計畫，遴選國內優秀清寒學子赴海外僑界見習。第三是建立海外僑校師資媒合平台，媒合國內志工青年及畢業學生到僑校服務，紓解僑校師資不足，也有助於海內外教育人才的交流。

為鼓勵國內大學投入華僑事務研究，僑委會自2004年舉辦華僑事務研究碩博士論文獎，至今已獎勵9篇博士論文及62篇碩士論文。今年有1位博士生及10位碩士生獲獎，分別來自清華大學、台灣大學、台灣師範大學、交通大學、政治大學、新竹教育大學及屏東大學，其中3位是馬來西亞僑生。得獎論文研究議題關注海外華人政治、產業、華文教育及僑生研究等，研究對象包含馬來西亞、泰國、菲律賓、美國、紐西蘭等國華人。當天出席的論文指導教授台灣大學地理環境資源學系教授姜蘭虹及助理教授洪伯邑都肯定論文獎是海外華人及移民研究與實務的重要支持，也是學術與政策的對話平台。

"南京不哭"要日本記得"南京大屠殺"這歷史令人心痛

      (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導)跨入2017，就是”南京大屠殺”的80週年了。儘管聯合國教科文組織在2015年已把中國申報的南京大屠殺檔案，列入”世界記憶名錄”，日本卻迄今從未就此向中國正式道歉。促使麻省理工學院教授鄭洪以英文寫作”南京不哭(Nanjing Never Cries)”一書的原因，如今依然在。

      12月27日，日本首相安倍晉三在美國總統奧巴馬陪同下訪問珍珠港，悼念在日本偷襲珍珠港時大約2300名的美軍死難者，但70多年來，日本卻從未到南京，或當年滿州國的東北去悼念更無辜，遭遇更慘的中國百姓，實在讓中國人情何以堪。

      簽書留言時常寫一句”書成國恨心猶烈”的鄭洪，每提起”南京”，心頭就湧起萬般滋味。他希望有一天，有人能把”南京不哭”這本小說，和其他的相關題材，資料揉合起來，拍一部像”辛德勒名單”那麼有震撼力的電影，更廣泛的讓西方世界知道，有20到30萬的中國百姓是那麼無辜，悲慘的受害者，日本絕不是不少美國人認定的二次世界大戰受害者。

      祖籍廣東省茂名縣的鄭洪是1937年6月出生的。幾十天後，盧溝橋事變，中日開戰，他跟隨家人逃難，飛機來時要拼命跑，沒被機關槍掃中，就趕緊躲進防空洞。轟炸結束後走出來，只見亂竄火苗，處處硝煙，遍地焦屍，悲切的哭聲不斷傳來。

      這經驗深埋在他心中，讓他一直有著有朝一日要寫本書，描述這段歲月的心願。抗日勝利後，他隨家人遷居香港，1949轉澳門，然後到台灣，進建國中學，台灣大學，赴美深造，並成為麻省理工學院教授。

      真正促使鄭洪提筆的導火線，是1995年4月15日那天，兩名同事突然跟他說，有個專題研討會在扭曲歷史，他最好去聽聽。那是在MIT一座大樓的9樓105室，3名白人，1名日本人的4個講者，向2到300名聽眾說日本在二次世界大戰中為了保衛自己的特有文化，抵抗西方侵略，受傷最重，苦難最多，如果不是因為某些因素，事件，美國也許不會把原子彈在廣島，長崎。

      鄭洪當天在會場上發言，卻被當成空氣。他說事後從不少年輕人那兒知道，原來美國有許多中小學的歷史課就是這麼教的，認為兩顆原子彈，使得日本成為二次世界大戰的最大受害者。他事後投書MIT校報，文稿竟被刪了一大半。

      鄭洪心裡很不平衡，為美國言論的其實並不自由，為中國的無辜受日本戰火侵襲，為20到30萬平民百姓被日本殘暴屠殺遭遇，感到極度不公平。

      那年的教授休假期，他到南京住了3個月，親自走訪了兩名南京大屠殺受害者，常志強，姜根福，參觀南京大屠殺博物館，蒐集了許多資料。

      鄭洪說自己選擇以小說的形式，還要用自己並不擅長的英語來處理南京大屠殺這題材，主要是希能引起更多人關注”南京大屠殺”這段歷史，還沒有得到公正對待的事實，讓西方人知道，在東方中國，日本曾做出比希特勒對猶太人還殘暴的行為，而且規模之大，遠不成比例。

      他知道市面上已經有張純如等人出版的南京大屠殺書籍，也有以南京大屠殺為題材的電影，但是別說西方人，就連中國人自己，恐怕也還有很多人不清楚。他希望這本書能促使西方社會知道這段歷史，讓哪些無辜犧牲的人得到公平對待。

      鄭洪的努力，得到很多人的幫助。他的鄰居愛麗霞(Alexa Fleckenstein)每星期二下午和他一起修改稿建的英文，前後十年，稿件大修不下10次之多。MIT出版社負責人Ellen Faran原本回覆是麻省理工從來不出版小說，但二個月，把書看過兩遍後，她決定以MIT前任校長姓名，成立了Killian Press這個部門，來出版英文版的”南京不哭”。

      中國大陸鳳凰傳媒集團下的譯林出版社也已於12月13日，中國大陸第三屆「南京大屠殺死難者國家公祭日」這天，發行中文版。

            現在就看有沒有人來拍一部”南京不哭”電影，提醒世人，”南京大屠殺”中的廿，三十萬冤民，正義待伸。

波士頓市獲得廣州2016年國際城市創新獎

CITY OF BOSTON RECEIVES 2016 GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR URBAN INNOVATION

Boston's youth participatory budgeting process recognized as top civic engagement practice

Francesco Tena, left, accepts the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation on behalf of the City of Boston from Parks Tau, right, former Mayor of Johannesburg.

BOSTON -  Thursday, December 29, 2016 - Mayor Walsh today announced the City of Boston was awarded the top prize at The Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation's international convening held in Guangzhou, China. Boston's youth participatory budgeting process, "Youth Lead the Change," was selected from 301 innovation projects submitted by 171 cities to receive the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation. Boston is the first city in the United States to receive this award. "We know Boston is a forward-thinking, innovative city, and I'm proud that our work has been recognized by this international award," said Mayor Walsh. "Through Youth Lead the Change, we are involving our young, bright residents in local government, and empowering them to make positive changes in their neighborhoods. Congratulations to everyone involved in this initiative." The Mayor's Youth Council, a key initiative of Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) Division of Youth Engagement & Employment, has facilitated Youth Lead the Change since 2014. Youth Lead the Change has gone through three voting phases and funded 17 projects totalling $2.8 million. Projects funded include providing laptops in schools, park renovations, adding trash cans and recycling bins, and installing wifi in schools and community centers. Since the program began, delegations from countries around the world have visited Boston to learn from its approach to youth engagement. The Guangzhou Award recognizes innovation in improving social, economic and environmental sustainability in cities and regions that advance the prosperity and quality of life of their citizens. Presented bi-annually, the award encourages and recognizes outstanding innovative projects and practices in the public sector. "The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation has made a very positive impact," said Parks Tau, president of United Cities and Local Governments, a co-organizer of the event. "The whole world is experimenting with innovative projects on sustainable development," Tau said. "We need to learn from each other, to copy, promote and share new concepts." Francesco Tena, Manager of the Mayor's Youth Council, was sponsored by the Guangzhou Institute to travel to China on behalf of the City of Boston to compete for and accept the award. "Boston is providing a platform for young people to lead today while also making government more accessible and responsive," said Tena. "Cities around the world are realizing that there are huge benefits to engaging young people meaningfully in local government." Youth Lead the Change has received other honors in the past: in 2015, the U.S. Conference of Mayors awarded the program the City Livability Award and in 2016 it received the Civies Award from MassVote. The Mayor's Youth Council is currently collecting ideas on how to spend this year's allotment of $1 million. The funding is placed in BCYF's budget each year specifically for this project. To submit an idea, visit https://www.boston.gov/departments/boston-centers-youth-families/youth-lead-change.

大波士頓週四可能降雪18吋

       (Boston Orange)冬天，真的來了。麻州正準備迎接今冬的第一場暴風雪。國家氣象局發出了冬季風暴警告，表示星期四，12月29日這天，麻州有些地方可能降雪18吋。

      大約從星期四的早上9點到星期五的早上10點，麻州西部的某些地方會降雪8到12吋。

      麻州緊急管理局表示，有些地方的積雪可能高達18吋。

      128公路以內，降雪量會少於6吋，麻州東南部及鱈魚角等島嶼，可能完全不下雪。

麻州點亮以色列光明燈 市長強調波士頓歡迎所有人

在柯普利廣場舉行的以色列光明燈節。(周菊子攝)

麻州州長查理貝克點亮光明燈。(周菊子攝)

      (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)2017年即將來臨，雞鳴聲也將響起，麻州州長和波士頓市長等人12月27日晚在波士頓柯普利廣場，聯袂點亮猶太人的9燭光明燈(Menorah Lighting)，為未來的世界自由、和平祝禱。

      由於聯合國才剛在12月23日時通過決議案，指以色列佔領東耶路薩冷，移民屯墾是非法行為，以色列總理南特亞胡(Benjamin Netanyahu)立即譴責美國在聯合國安理會中投棄權票，有個猶太女婿Jared Kushner的美國候任總統川普(Donald Trump)，也馬上表示美國應該動用否決權。2017年看來不會很平靜。

      關心麻州科技界的人，大概都知道，”麻州挑戰(Massachusetts Challenge)”的第一個國外分支，設在以色列，麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)上任2年後，率領出訪的首個貿易團，也是去以色列。麻州和以色列的關係，勢必更將備受矚目。

右起，麻州州長查理貝克，以色列駐新英格蘭領事Yehuda Yaakov，

波士頓市長馬丁華殊，波士頓市議員查金，麻州眾議員Jay Livingston

(左一)等光明燈節嘉賓。(周菊子攝)

      麻州州長查理貝克是12月9日率領貿易團，到以色列訪問了6天。27日晚，查理貝克面對2~300名圍觀儀式者表示，雖然這次訪問以色列，主要是為了網路安全，數位健康，搭起麻州和以色列的交流橋樑，但去到那兒，親眼見到自己從小在課本，歷史裡中學到事件，文物，感受每一個地方都有2~3000年的悠久，真的很震撼。他祈願大家2007年和平，快樂，安全。

      波士頓市市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)說，在波士頓”我們歡迎所有不同背景，不同信仰的人，致力推廣把人們團結在一起的光明，溫暖，付出和友誼，希望每點亮一根蠟燭，都能帶動對抗黑暗，引人向善的力量。

Menorah這光明燈節又稱Hanukkah，是猶太人慶祝當年脫離塞琉西王朝統治，獲得自由的一連8天慶祝活動。12月27日是今年的光明燈節第四天。

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)。(周菊子攝)

      過去33年來，倡議正統猶太運動的大波士頓加巴德猶太中心(Jewish Center Chabad Boston)和大波士頓加德屋(Chabad House of Greater Boston)每年都在麻州地鐵公園街站附近，舉辦燭光慶祝會。今年更請動麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，波士頓市市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)，本身是猶太人的波士頓市議員查金(Josh Zakim)出席，搭著雲梯，升到22尺高的光明燈檯頂端，點亮燈檯上的蠟燭。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(中)等人。(周菊子攝)

      以色列駐新英格蘭領事Yehuda Yaakov​，這晚也應邀出席。他在致詞時感謝查理貝克前些日子接受WGBH訪問，談以色列之旅時，對以色列的稱讚，強調以色列已再次拿回(reclaim)耶路撒冷，也將永遠不再讓需要重新拿回的情況出現。耶路薩冷將保持為領土統一的以色列國首都。

波士頓加巴德猶太中心牧師Mayer Zarchi說明光明燈節慶祝以色列獲
得自由。(周菊子攝)

剛結婚的波士頓市議員查金(Josh Zakim)也是猶太人。(周菊子攝)

以色列駐新英格蘭領事Yehuda Yaakov強調耶路薩冷是以色列國的統一
領土。(周菊子攝)

麻州將建全美最大種大麻廠 參眾議會暫緩大麻上路

      (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)前兩天才為麻州將建全美最大的大麻工廠高興的人，這會兒得等一年再高興了。麻州議會12月28日修訂提案，決定把零售大麻的第一張證照，延遲到2018年7月再發。

      藥用大麻在美國，原本一向是加州走在前頭，去年麻州選民才剛藉選票問通過大麻合法化，今年12月就傳出AmeriCann這家公司要在麻州建造的種大麻廠，規模遠比加州大，麻州的將是全美最大大麻州，立即引起各方關注。

      或許正是因為這樣的關注，麻州參眾議會在12月28日這天決定，延緩牌照發放討論6個月。雖然大麻合法化的新法，已於12月15日生效，但是待細則條文確定，廠商真的可以申請銷售大麻時，可能已是2018年4月了。

      參眾兩會打算召開多個會議，討論一旦大麻合法化上路後，該訂立些什麼樣的管制條款。

      因為這一行動，麻州財政廳廳長高柏珂(Deb Goldberg)可以等到2017年9月，再組成管轄大麻種植，銷售的”大麻管制委員會(Cannabis Control Commission)”。

加州在藥用大麻上，一向走在美國前端，2015年的毛收入已達28億元，估計2020年時還可高達65億元。加州最大的種大麻工廠G Farms今年(2016)6月也宣佈，要在沙漠溫泉(Desert Hot Spring)鎮上，建造一個佔地10萬平方呎，包括在7畝地上有3個溫室的大麻工廠。

和來自科羅拉多州AmeriCann公司的計畫一比，加州G Farms的計畫黯然失色。

AmeriCann執行長Tim Keogh表示，2017年3月，要在Freetown建造一個佔地53畝的大麻工廠。那是該公司今年秋季以447萬5000元買下的100萬平方呎Canna企業園，要在那建效率更高的溫室，檢測實驗室，研發訓練中心，企業辦公室。