Congressional Gold Medal presentation to Filipino World War II Veterans planned for Houston

Houston, Texas Plans are underway for a Houston ceremony honoring Filipino World War II veterans, whose service and sacrifice have been finally recognized by the U.S. with the passage of the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, which is now Public Law114-265. January 27, Saturday, at the Lone Star Flight Museum, there will be an official Houston presentation to families and veterans qualifying for the medal who could not attend the Washington DC ceremony. “We are holding this ceremony in our town and we want the veterans and families to feel special,” said Region 7 Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) Director Christy Poisot. Filipino Veterans of World War II received a Congressional Gold Medal October 25, 2017 during a ceremony in Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol. It was awarded collectively to those who served honorably in an active duty status between July 26, 1941, and December 31, 1946 under the command of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) within the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the Philippine Scouts, the Philippine Constabulary, recognized guerrilla units, the New Philippine Scouts, the First Filipino Infantry Regiment, the Second Filipino Infantry Battalion (Separate), or the First Reconnaissance Battalion, including those commanding or serving as U.S. military officers or enlisted soldiers. The Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) is one of the highest civilian awards bestowed by the United States for persons or groups who have performed an achievement that have an impact on American history and culture. In particular, this award is a public expression of the U.S. Congress’ gratitude on behalf of the nation for the distinguished contributions of 260,000 Filipino soldiers and guerrillas during World War II in the Philippines. Surviving Filipino and American veterans or their next-of-kin will receive bronze replicas of the CGM and a copy of Public Law 114-265. Expected to attend are Congressional sponsors, City of Houston officials, high ranking general officers from the US Army and US Air Force, veteran advocates, community leaders and supporters. “We secured the Congressional Gold Medal to honor our veterans and demonstrate our deepest gratitude for their supreme sacrifice,” said FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret). “It’s for our veterans and they deserve to have a memorable event.” Medal recipients in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Oklahoma who are unable to attend the Houston ceremony should look out for other ceremonies on the FilVetREP website. National Registry. Bronze replicas will be awarded only to surviving veterans or their next-of-kin whose eligibility for CGM has been vetted and whose names are included in FilVetREP’s national veterans’ registry. “It is essential that veterans and their families register as soon as possible to make sure they are included in the award ceremony,” Taguba adds. Applications and instructions for submission may be downloaded from FilVetREP’s website, www.filvetrep.org. Each of the FILVETREP regional directors are responsible for contacting the veterans and families to help them register. Bronze replicas are not funded by the U.S. government, but rather by donations from the public. Donations to support FilVetREP’s CGM activities are accepted through the FilVetREP website. CGM Design and Approval Process. FilVetREP met with the U.S. Mint’s Office of Design Management in providing significant input and recommendations to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission on Fine Arts (CFA). The U.S. Mint is the nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, commemorative coins and congressional gold medals, and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the nation to conduct its trade and commerce. CCAC is an advisory committee established in 2003 by Congress under Public Law 108-15 to advise the Secretary of the Treasury on the themes and designs of all U.S. coins and medals; CFA is an independent federal agency charged with giving expert advice on matters of design and aesthetics, as they affect the federal interest and preserve the dignity of the nation’s capital. The minting process, which typically takes about three months, basically involves translating a 14-page legislation (i.e., Public Law 114-265) into a graphic design engraved on a 3-inchmedal minted in solid gold. The CGM legislation provides that the Smithsonian Institution will be the repository for the CGM where it will be available for display and research. The CGM legislation also requires the Smithsonian Institution to make the CGM available for display elsewhere. Currently, the plan is for the CGM to be permanently housed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History or another national museum of similar repute. (From Ed Gar)

CAPAC Chair Statement on Three Week Continuing Resolution

CAPAC Chair Statement on Three Week Continuing Resolution

Washington, D.C.— Today, the U.S. House and Senate agreed to a short-term spending package to reopen the government until February 8, 2018. With Congressional Republicans unable to pass a full budget for the year, this is the fourth short-term extension since the fiscal year began in October 2017. Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), voted against the continuing resolution and released the following statement:

“I am glad the government shutdown has ended, but without any new agreement on a long-term budget, parity between defense and non-defense spending, disaster recovery assistance for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and victims of wildfires, or stopping President Trump’s arbitrary Dreamer deportation deadline, this feels more like a pause. This is why I voted against the continuing resolution today and urged my CAPAC colleagues to do the same.

“Nobody wanted a shutdown, yet Republicans were also unwilling to make a deal to avoid it. That seems to still be the case today. There is still no plan to overcome the Republican party’s internal problems with funding the government just a few weeks at a time. And, although Sen. Mitch McConnell made a vague assurance to consider legislation to help Dreamers, the House is another story. In a September meeting, Speaker Ryan asked for my patience to allow the House time to find a legislative solution for DACA. But despite four continuing resolutions, they have made no progress towards a bipartisan deal. In fact, their rhetoric on immigrants grew more cruel and their demands more unreasonable. This is the same Republican House that refused to allow a vote on the last bipartisan immigration reform bill to pass the Senate in 2013, so I remain skeptical of their motives.

“Rather than allow us to vote on a clean DREAM Act, Donald Trump and Republican leaders want to decimate our family-based immigration system, end the diversity visa program, and build an ineffective border wall that does nothing to make our country more safe. This is unacceptable, and CAPAC will not support a DACA deal that trades one family’s pain for that of another. Catering to the whims of anti-immigrant hard-liners is exactly what got us here. The fact that the government shut down under unified Republican control shows that Republicans cannot effectively govern on their own. Mitch McConnell has pledged a vote to help Dreamers. I believe, in the wake of his failure to keep government open, Paul Ryan should do the same.

“I urge Congressional Republicans to prioritize governing over campaigning, and work with us to reach reasonable solutions for our country.” 

MAYOR WALSH FILES ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH FILES ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN BOSTON

Ordinance aims to incorporate growth of home-share industry into City's work to continue creating affordable housing

BOSTON - Monday, January 22, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that today he will file a citywide ordinance establishing guidelines and regulations to better track and regulate short-term rentals in the City of Boston. As a new global industry that has a strong presence in Boston, short-term rentals provide both economic opportunities for residents and alternative temporary accommodation options for visitors. The new regulations put forth in the ordinance aim to capture the growth of Boston's growing home-share industry, while including deterrents to help prevent operators from monopolizing Boston's housing market with short-term rentals. In addition, the regulations provide a standardized framework for regulating these units that both meet the evolving needs of the industry, provide protections for occupants and minimize the impact on surrounding neighbors of these units. "Preserving Boston's affordability is key to keeping our communities stable and ensuring every person and family who wants to live here can afford to do so," said Mayor Walsh. "This ordinance is an important step towards our goal of reducing housing costs by creating disincentives to taking units off the market for use as short-term rentals. It also allows for the continued use of short-term rentals in scenarios that are non-disruptive to our neighborhoods and support our tourism industry. Boston is a great place to live and visit, and we look forward to responsibly incorporating the growth of the home-share industry into our work to create affordable housing for all." In addition to classifying and registering the short-term rental units, the regulations include provisions that restrict the number of nights a unit can be booked per year, and require that each unit register with the City of Boston and pay an annual license fee. The ordinance takes a three-tiered approach to classifying short-term rental units: Limited Share Unit: consists of a private bedroom or shared space in the operator's primary residence, in which the operator is present during the rental. The fee associated with this classification is $25 per year. Home Share Unit: consists of a whole unit available for a short-term rental at the primary residence of the operator (unit in which operator resides for at least nine months out of a 12 month period). The fee associated with this classification is $100 per year. Investor Unit: consists of an entire unit available for a short-term rental in a whole dwelling that is non-owner and non-tenant occupied. The fee associated with this classification is $500 per year. The regulations also provide protections for the occupants of the short-term rental unit by prohibiting any property with outstanding housing, sanitary, building, fire or zoning-code violations from being listed. To assist with the enforcement of regulations, booking platforms will be required to provide the City with monthly data and information relative to the short-term rental listings that detail the location and occupancy numbers. Today's announcement builds on Mayor Walsh's commitment to addressing the housing demands in Boston. In April 2017, Mayor Walsh signed an executive order that laid out a roadmap for the collection of information on short-term rental units in Boston and directed city agencies to coordinate efforts in addressing the commercialization of short-term rental housing operations in the City of Boston. Data shows that the availability of short-term rental units has a direct correlation to housing costs. A 2016 study by UMass Boston found a 0.4% increase in rent prices due to increases in AirBNB listings, and a nationwide UCLA student also found a 0.42% increase. In addition to rent increases, the commercialization of short-term rentals in residential dwellings and residential neighborhoods has the potential to reduce availability of long-term housing for owners and tenants alike, and is contrary to the Administration's goal of adding 53,000 units of housing across a variety of income levels by 2030. To date, the Walsh Administration has committed more than $100 million in funding to the creation and preservation of affordable housing. Today's announcement builds on the City's preservation and anti-displacement goals, outlined in Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030, Mayor Walsh's housing plan, and the housing goals laid out in Imagine Boston 2030, Boston's first citywide plan in 50 years. As part of both plans, Boston has prioritized increasing the overall housing supply, with a focus on creating and preserving affordable housing. Since the launch of the housing plan, 24,454 new units have been permitted. When complete, these developments will be enough to house 48,600 new residents, and begin to relieve pressure on rents in existing housing.  Of these, 4,649 new income-restricted units have been permitted, of which 2,234 are targeted to low income households. There are an additional 4,240 deed-restricted units in the City's development pipeline.   In addition to creating new housing, the Walsh Administration is focused on protecting the tenancies of Boston's residents, launching the nation's first Office of Housing Stability in 2016.  In addition, Mayor Walsh has filed an anti-displacement legislative package at the State House, and strengthened tenants' access to information by creating the city's first online guide to the eviction process.

台灣學生拜訪中華公所 了解僑社、僑教工作

台灣大學學生和波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(前排左起)，前中華公所
主席阮鴻燦，財政陳文浩，中文書記雷國輝，核數周樹昂合影。

(Boston Orange) 臺灣大學鄭守開等8位學生利用前來參加哈佛大學學生交流活動的機會，在波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉安排及陪同下，於1月18日下午前往紐英崙中華公所拜會，受到該公所職員的熱情接待，讓學生們對波士頓傳統僑社有初步的認識，也能增進對海外僑務工作的瞭解。

台灣大學學生與波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(前排左起)，前中華公所
主席阮鴻燦，財政陳文浩，核數周樹昂合影。

由於中華公所主席陳家驊因故不克親自接見這批學生，特別由中文書記雷國輝、財政陳文浩和核數周樹昂等職員，以及前主席阮鴻燦代表出席，他們帶領學生們參觀公所的設備設施，也安排座談交流活動，簡介紐英崙中華公所的沿革、現況與未來展望，並強調該公所與華埠僑團堅定支持中華民國，支持民主自由的理念，到訪的學生們咸感獲益匪淺。

臺灣大學學生在波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(左二)陪同下參觀

紐英崙中華公所圖書館。

中文書記雷國輝代表陳家驊主席接見學生，他表示，很歡迎臺灣的教師、學生或其他的團體前來中華公所參訪，讓國人更加瞭解僑胞對國家政府的支持；財政陳文浩則特別準備中華公所及主要姓氏僑團的中英文簡介資料，讓學生們對波士頓華埠有更多的瞭解。此外，核數周樹昂和前主席阮鴻燦等人，也分別說明中華公所被美國聯邦政府認定為國家史蹟建物，以及中華公所設置圖書館供僑胞閱讀中文書報期刊的經過，都讓臺灣的學生瞭解到僑胞在異鄉的努力奮鬥與彼此的互助合作。

中文書記雷國輝、財政陳文浩(立者)和核數周樹昂等
職員，以及前主席阮鴻燦向臺大學生簡介紐英崙
中華公所的沿革、現況與未來發展。

僑教中心主任歐宏偉指出，波士頓許多郊區的僑胞以及國內民眾，都不瞭解海外傳統僑社對國家政府的支持、付出與貢獻，因此，他希望能有更多機會安排不同的僑團，甚或從臺灣來訪的各類團體，都能對波城華埠傳統僑社有更進一步的瞭解；歐宏偉也非常感謝雷國輝等人對學生們的接待照料，未來將持續洽請中華公所協助安排，讓波士頓地區的臺灣商會、中文學校、生技科技專業團體及各校友會等成員，都有機會前來拜會及參訪華埠。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)

Department of Public Utilities Opens Investigation into National Grid’s Preparation and Response to October Storm

Department of Public Utilities Opens Investigation into National Grid’s Preparation and Response to October Storm

BOSTON – January 19, 2018 – The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) today opened a formal investigation into National Grid’s storm preparation and power restoration efforts following the October 29, 2017 windstorm. As part of the investigation, the DPU will examine how National Grid responded to the October 29, 2017 storm, focusing on their preparations before the storm, restoration efforts after the storm, and communications with affected communities. The DPU will also review whether National Grid complied with DPU guidelines and regulations and the company’s own Emergency Response Plan. Based on its findings, the DPU could levy financial penalties and order changes to National Grid’s restoration procedures going forward.  

“Electric ratepayers across the Commonwealth should expect the timely restoration of service following extreme weather events,” said DPU Chairwoman Angela M. O’Connor. “The Department of Public Utilities’ investigation will be fair and thorough, focused on assessing whether the storm response was consistent with existing protocols and determining whether there can be improvements to increase reliability for ratepayers.”

Following the October 29, 2017 storm, the DPU directed Eversource Energy and National Grid to file Final Event Reports detailing their preparation and restoration efforts. Following the review of those reports, the DPU believes further investigation into the restoration performance of National Grid is warranted.    

As part of this investigation, the DPU will conduct two public hearings to hear from residents, businesses, and local officials in the hardest-hit areas affected by the October storm. The hearings will be held at North Andover Middle School in North Andover on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 7:00pm, and at McCarthy Middle School in Chelmsford on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 7:00pm.

BOSTON, BROOKLINE, CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE LAUNCH "SNAP CARD TO RIDE" BIKE SHARE

BOSTON, BROOKLINE, CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE LAUNCH "SNAP CARD TO RIDE" BIKE SHARE Discounted Hubway bike share now available for SNAP participants

BOSTON - Thursday, January 18, 2018 -  The Metro-Boston public bike share system, Hubway, is now available at a significant discount to low-income families and individuals. "SNAP Card to Ride" was launched by the Cities of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, the Town of Brookline, the Department of Transitional Assistance, and bikeshare operator Motivate. "SNAP Card to Ride" provides $5 monthly memberships and $50 annual memberships to individuals over the age of 16 with their household EBT card. The membership includes unlimited 60-minute trips, rather than the current 30-minute trips, without additional usage fees. The program is part of an ongoing commitment to improve bike share access among traditionally underserved populations. Residents who do not receive SNAP benefits, but participate in other public assistance programs, will be able to access the discounted membership program in the near future. Convenient, easy online registration is available for EBT card holders at thehubway.com/SNAP/. After completing registration, members will have access to more than 1,800 bikes at 194 stations across the four municipalities. Members with smartphone access can use the Hubway mobile app to locate and unlock bikes.  "During the Go Boston 2030 planning process, Boston residents shared their desire for a more reliable, equitable and accessible transportation system, which includes our increasingly popular bike share system," said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "The City of Boston is pleased to be part of the SNAP Card to Ride partnership, and we look forward increasing the number of stations and bikes in Boston over the next 18 months."  "Hubway has evolved to become an invaluable tool for facilitating active transportation for people that live and work in the greater Boston region," said Chair of the Brookline Select Board, Neil Wishinsky. "We are excited that the SNAP Card to Ride program will make bike share more accessible so everyone has the opportunity to utilize this great resource." "Cambridge residents, commuters, and visitors benefit from the Hubway system, and this program is an essential way to ensure that every member of our community has access to this great transportation resource," said Louis A. DePasquale, Cambridge City Manager. "We look forward to continuing to work with our municipal partners in promoting cost-effective, sustainable transportation throughout the Metro Boston region." "Hubway's new low-income membership is a key element of Somerville's affordability strategy," said Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone. "Riding a bicycle can be one of the most cost effective ways to get around an urban environment like Somerville, and I'm proud that in 2018 we will see nine new Hubway stations and two miles of protected, low-stress bike lanes to give more residents a better opportunity to travel throughout Somerville - and beyond - by bike." "Hubway shows that bike share is fulfilling its promise as a vital part of the Boston area's transportation network -- increasing access to the region's existing transit network as well as communities underserved by public transit," said Jay H. Walder, CEO & President of Motivate, operators of Hubway. "We are eager to continue to help grow a system that has truly served as an inspiration for a whole generation of bike share programs across the nation." The four municipalities that own Hubway aim to provide further access to the discounted membership program. Building on the long-running reduced-cost membership provided by the City of Boston to its low-income residents, the expanded program will be open to residents of any municipality. In addition, the City of Boston will provide a subsidized program to guests and clients of shelters and transitional homes within the city. Further details about eligibility and income requirements will be announced in spring 2018.  Winter riding is available in all four municipalities for the first time this year, following several years of winter operations in the City of Cambridge. Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville announced major expansion of the publicly-owned system. Collectively, they will add over 100 new stations in 2018 and 2019, providing over 300 stations and approximately 3000 bicycles for public use.

華人社區募捐骨隨搶救兒科林醫師

也許有些人已經知道了這個訊息。這位僑界的醫生朋友一直用愛心幫助了許多人，現在正需要每位朋友的一點心力～

·        請大家一起來幫忙中文學校的朋友、醫生、台灣媳婦…

Save Janet---一位孩童健康成長的守護者

各位朋友們：

如果您為人父母，一定體會過醫院休診時，孩子突然出狀況那種惶惶無助的焦慮？或者經歷懷抱幼兒，在急診室裡漫長無邊的等待吧？有一位醫師，甜美的笑容，貼心的關懷，加上豐富的專業技能，常在這樣的時刻，撫慰著病家的煎熬。她就是Dr. Janet Hsu-Lin，相信有不少小寶貝是她的病人，她也是個臺灣媳婦！

來自天津，畢業於Tufts醫學院，懷抱著對孩子的愛心，林醫師選擇站在救治兒童的第一線。 二十多年來，從Boston兒童醫院到Newton-Wellesley，她在急診室伴隨小病患們度過了數不清的黑夜黎明。有感於急診室制度的不便，一年半前她在Newton一手打造了專門診治兒童的緊急照護醫院KidsWell，期望更進一步發展社區醫療，造福鄉親。可是，當她正一步一步實踐理想時，她病了。

林醫師罹患了慢性骨髓性白血病。一如她過往鼓舞小病患，自己也正勇敢的承受化療帶來的莫大沖擊。即便如此，面對詭異多變的血癌細胞，目前所用的藥物隨時可能會因抗藥性產生而失效！唯有徹底摧毀自身造血系統，盡快接受骨髓移植，方得重生的希望。而她能找到合適骨髓的最好機會，就來自血脈相連的同胞們！

令人扼腕的是， 或許文化因素導致了東方人的骨髓資料庫不夠完備，亞裔病人能從其中完成配型的比率是所有族裔中最低的。這是一場生命與時間的賽跑，站在關鍵時刻點，您可以伸出援手，成為其中之一嗎？

捐贈者需在60歲以下，只有細胞分子表型與患者配對成功者才能捐獻。又因為醫生選的捐贈者95%為18-44歲，所以配對測試在18-44歲註冊檢驗是免費，45-60歲要交$100元。有意做配型檢測者請到 https://bethematch.org 完成網上問卷。醫院會將測試用品寄到您手上 。您只需抹取口腔頰側細胞，依指示寄回即可。

不論您是否接收配型測試，請幫忙把訊息傳給您的朋友圈，尋找有緣人。

舉手之勞，恩同再造! 無限感恩!

The National Marrow Donor Program - Donate Today | Be The Match

https://bethematch.org/

The National Marrow Donor Program - Donate Today | Be The Match
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波士頓北一女校友會

波士頓關懷救助協會
新英格蘭台灣商會
尼雅舞蹈班

波市府100萬元預算邀學生提使用計畫

MAYOR WALSH ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO SUBMIT IDEAS FOR BOSTON'S "YOUTH LEAD THE CHANGE" $1 MILLION PROGRAM

Boston students are encouraged to submit ideas to improve their neighborhoods

BOSTON - Thursday, January 18, 2018 - For the fifth year in a row, youth ages 12-25 in Boston have the opportunity to submit ideas for how the City of Boston spends $1 million dollars of its Capital Budget through the "Youth Lead the Change" participatory budgeting process. Youth Lead the Change, the first participatory budgeting process in North America by and for young people, is currently collecting ideas from young Bostonians until Wednesday, February 14th. "Thanks to the hard work and innovative ideas of Boston's young people, we have been able to complete unique, community-enhancing projects across the city," said Mayor Walsh. "By involving young people in the budget process, we are empowering our future leaders and supporting what really matters to them."   Over the past four years, thousands of young people have nominated projects for funding. Past projects selected for funding have included expanding Wicked Free WiFi, installing water bottle refilling stations at parks, placing newer trash cans and recycling bins in select neighborhoods, Boston Public Schools renovation projects, new security cameras in Dorchester's Dr. Loesch Family Park, and many more city-wide capital projects. "Youth Lead the Change gives Boston youth the opportunity to play a role in their government," said Vikiana Petit-Homme, age 16, Youth Director for Youth Lead the Change. "We are given the unique opportunity to change our surroundings and improve the quality of life of young people across Boston. Every year amazing capital projects are made possible in Boston thanks to YLC." Youth Lead the Change is managed by Boston Centers for Youth & Families' Division of Youth Engagement & Employment, and the Mayor's Youth Council oversees the process in partnership with youth organizations across Boston. The Mayor's Youth Council is a group of 85 high school-aged youth committed to improving their communities and empowering other young people in Boston. Young Bostonians between the ages of 12-25 who would like to participate in the idea collection phase can submit their ideas at boston.gov/youth-lead-change. Ideas should be simple, bold, innovative, realistic and sustainable ways to improve access and opportunity for young people. Following the voting phase, volunteers will turn the ideas into projects in early spring, and then will set up voting locations for young people to select the final projects. About Boston Centers for Youth and Families Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) is the City of Boston's largest youth and human service agency. BCYF operates 36 community centers in Boston that offer a variety of engaging and enriching programs for people of all ages created through community input and need. BCYF also oversees many citywide programs including the nationally-recognized violence intervention and prevention Streetworker Program and SuccessLink, the Mayor's Summer Jobs Program.