Massachusetts Rate of Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths Increased 8.8 Percent in 2021 Compared to 2020

 Massachusetts Rate of Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths Increased 8.8 Percent in 2021 Compared to 2020

 

Fentanyl continues as a major factor driving opioid-related deaths; rates among Black residents decreased

 

BOSTON (June 8, 2022) – The rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts increased by 8.8 percent in 2021 compared to 2020, according to preliminary data released today by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Drug overdose deaths in Massachusetts continue to trend lower than the nationwide figures. The rise in death rates reflects effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and an increasingly poisoned drug supply, primarily with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.

 

There were 2,290 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in 2021, an estimated 185 more deaths than the prior year. Preliminary data from the first three months of 2022 show there were 551 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, a 4 percent decrease (an estimated 24 fewer deaths) than the same time last year.

 

Fentanyl remains a persistent factor in opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts. Preliminary data show fentanyl was present at a rate of 93 percent where a toxicology report was available. The presence of fentanyl has increased about 1 percent per quarter since 2016, including in the pre-pandemic period from 2017 to 2019 when opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts were on the decline.

 

The Baker-Polito Administration remains focused on the opioid epidemic and continues to invest millions of dollars to expand a wide range of harm reduction, substance use awareness, treatment intervention, and recovery services. The Administration’s Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget proposal invests $543.8 million in total funding for a wide range of harm reduction, treatment, and recovery programs that support individuals struggling with substance addiction and programs that work to prevent substance addiction through education, prescription monitoring, and more. This builds on the work done by the Administration and the Legislature to nearly quadruple state funding to tackle the addiction crisis since 2015.

 

“Tackling the opioid epidemic remains an urgent priority for our Administration, which is why we have worked with the Legislature to quadruple funding for substance addiction treatment and prevention, but we know there is more work to do,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Today’s report underscores the harmful impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and the scourge of fentanyl have had on those struggling with addiction, and we are committed to continuing our work with the Legislature and our colleagues in the addiction and recovery community to boost access to services and treatment.”

 

“Over the past several years, our Administration has focused on addressing the opioid epidemic and the ways in which it intersects with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, by strengthening pathways to treatment and recovery services, and education and prevention tools,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We will continue our comprehensive efforts while working with local public health officials to expand access to programs and services for those struggling with addiction.”

 

In 2021, the opioid-related overdose death rate in Massachusetts increased to 32.6 per 100,000 people as compared to 29.9 per 100,000 in the prior year. When comparing 2021 to 2020, the opioid-related overdose death rate among race and ethnic groups as a whole or by gender remained relatively stable, with Black non-Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander populations seeing small decreases and white non-Hispanic and Hispanic populations seeing small increases. One exception is American Indian/Alaska Native residents. The 2021 opioid-related overdose death rate for American Indian/Alaska Native residents was 118.6 per 100,000. While this population accounts for a small number of opioid-related overdose deaths (13 out of 2,234 confirmed deaths), American Indian/Alaska Native residents statistically had the highest opioid-related overdose death rate among all race/ethnicity groups last year.

 

There is clear evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on mental health and has led to increased substance use across the Commonwealth. A preliminary analysis of DPH’s COVID-19 Community Impact Survey, conducted to better understand the layered impacts of the pandemic, saw an increase in poor mental health and substance use since the pandemic began, especially among Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ individuals.

 

“We continue to be relentless in our commitment to increase access to harm reduction services, low threshold housing and treatment,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “By working to destigmatize addiction and meeting people where they’re at, including with an expanded array of harm reduction tools, we can reverse this negative trend.”

 

“We recognize the disproportionate burden of the opioid epidemic on historically marginalized communities, which have also borne the brunt of the ongoing pandemic and its destabilizing impacts on mental health and substance use,” said Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke. “We continue to use a data-driven approach to identify new solutions and expand on existing programs at the community level to increase much-needed outreach, especially among communities of color.”

 

Since the start of the pandemic, the Administration has aggressively expanded existing substance use disorder treatment and overdose prevention initiatives, investing $120 million in prevention programs from fiscal years 2016 to 2022. DPH has distributed more than 143,000 naloxone kits since March 2020 to opioid treatment programs, community health centers, hospital emergency departments, and houses of correction. Exemptions for federal requirements for take-home doses of medication for opioid use disorder have allowed 34 percent of Massachusetts opioid treatment program patients to access this life-saving treatment as of January 2022, compared to the pre-pandemic average of 16 percent in December 2019 (with a high of 52 percent in June 2020).

 

DPH has also expanded harm reduction programs as part of its overall overdose prevention efforts, including low-threshold housing (transitional and permanent), post-overdose support teams for overdose survivors, and mobile addiction services to improve access to treatment for individuals.

 

After fentanyl, cocaine continues to be the next most prevalent drug among opioid-related overdose deaths, present in toxicology reports at a rate of 51 percent in 2021 – a 5 percent increase over 2020. Benzodiazepines were present in 31 percent of opioid-related fatal overdoses. The percentage of benzodiazepines has been declining since the last quarter of 2017.

 

Alcohol, a newly reported toxicology data point, was present in 29 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths. This was followed by prescription opioids in 13 percent, and heroin or likely heroin and amphetamines present in 10 percent. The rate of heroin or likely heroin present in opioid-related overdose deaths has been declining since 2014.

 

Among the other findings of the latest opioid report:

 

• The confirmed opioid-related overdose death rate for all Black non-Hispanic residents fell from 37.5 to 35.1 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2021. The death rate for Asian/Pacific Islander non-Hispanic residents was relatively constant, going from 3.4 per 100,000 in 2020 to 3.3 per 100,000 in 2021.

 

• Both white non-Hispanic and Hispanic residents experienced death rate increases, with white non-Hispanic rates rising from 33.8 to 35.9 per 100,000 and Hispanic rates from 35.4 to 38 per 100,000 between 2020 and 2021.

 

• Males comprise 73 percent of all opioid-related overdose deaths occurring in 2021.
• 50 percent of opioid-related deaths occurred in people who were between 25 and 44 years old, compared to 5 percent of all deaths
• 41 percent were between 45 and 64 years old, compared to 17 percent of all deaths

 

• In 2021, males ages 25-34 once again represented the greatest number, accounting for 21 percent of suspected opioid-related incidents with a known age and sex treated by Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

 

• Naloxone was administered in 96 percent of acute opioid overdoses occurring in 2021. Of all opioid-related EMS incidents in 2021, 55.3 percent were categorized as acute opioid overdoses.

 

The following cities and towns experienced a notable decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2021 compared with 2020. (Residence is the city/town where the decedent lived, and occurrence is where the death occurred.)

 

Towns Experiencing a Notable Decrease in Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths from 2020 to 2021 that Meet Criteria*
Town	Residence	Occurrence	Both
Framingham	X
Chicopee	X
Weymouth		X

 

 

The following cities and towns experienced a notable increase in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2021 compared with 2020.

 

Towns Experiencing a Notable Increase in Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths from 2020 to 2021 that Meet Criteria*
Town	Residence	Occurrence	Both
Attleboro	X
Burlington		X
Cambridge		X
Lowell			X
Lynn			X
New Bedford	X
Pittsfield	X
Taunton			X
Ware	X
Westfield	X
* Criteria are the difference in the number of deaths between 2020 and 2021 is 10 or more higher in absolute number and 20% or higher in percent change.

 

梅伍銀寬獲Tufts大學公共服務榮譽博士學位

梅伍銀寬獲塔芙茨大學公共服務榮譽博士學位。 (梅氏公所提供)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 波士頓華人社區最近新添一位榮譽博士。中華耆英會會長梅伍銀寬在5月27日舉行的塔芙茨大學 (Tufts)畢業典禮中，獲頒公共服務榮譽博士學位。

              紐英崙梅氏公所由主席梅麗梨和梅少彬安排，6月5日在昆士市梅氏宗親開設的龍鳳大酒樓中設宴慶祝，以「實至名歸，博士之路」恭喜宗親加冕桂冠。

              中華耆英會是在1972年時，由一群熱心人士創辦的社會服務機構，1973

梅氏宗親在昆士市龍鳳酒樓慶祝梅伍銀寬獲榮譽博士學位。  (梅氏公所提供)

年，他們找到梅伍銀寬擔任行政主任，負責實際運作。梅伍銀寬自己也沒想到，她竟從此一頭栽進耆英服務領域，為因應耆英各項生活需求，她從聯邦到州市政府的各個相關機構的逐一洽談，克服主流社會早年持有華人都不需要幫忙這刻板印象的障礙，服務規模也就跟著大了起來。

梅氏宗親在昆士市龍鳳酒樓慶祝梅伍銀寬獲榮譽博士學位。  (梅氏公所提供)

              最開始，中華耆英會是在夏利臣街 (Harrison)為幾名老人家提供營養餐，接著想辦法幫助老人家增加收入，協助尋找就業機會，解答醫療保險等相關問題，然後老人家又需要穩定居所，於是一步步的，中華耆英會就擴展到如今的每天為老人家供應4000多份營養餐，在康樂樓，君子樓，白禮頓樓等3個不同地點設服務中心，還到郊區做外展服務，成為華裔老人服務的最具規模為社會服務機構。

梅氏公所2名主席，梅麗梨(左)、梅少彬(右) 恭賀梅伍銀寬獲博士學位。
(梅氏公所提供)

             1981年時，為了能夠更多元化的照顧老人，梅伍銀寬創辦了中城家庭健康服務公司 (Midtown Home Health Services, Inc.) ，為有需要的老人家提供家庭護理支援員、家庭健康護理員、個人護理和家務員、家務員和陪伴員，以及醫療護送、服務信息和醫療轉介服務。

             為迎合老人家的住屋需求，梅伍銀寬還在2015年把原本只有28個單位的康樂樓，翻修，改建成一棟有74戶可負擔住宅的房屋。

              紐英崙梅氏公所主席梅麗梨指出，梅伍銀寬也從1996年起，加入公所的服務宗親行列，從財政做起，歷任梅市公所第一位女性主席，全美理事會理事，是一位深受全世界梅氏家族愛戴、尊敬的宗親。

              在梅氏宗親會的慶賀宴上，梅伍銀寬謙虛感謝公所元老梅炳鈿，梅錫銳，主席梅麗梨，梅少彬為她安排慶祝會，宗親們多年來給她的支持與鼓勵，梅氏家族對她的情誼，她將永銘心中，也會在服務耆英，保障耆英權益，幫助耆英獨立自主生活上繼續努力。

梅氏元老梅炳鈿 (右)賀梅伍銀寬獲榮譽博士學位。(梅氏公所提供)

梅宇國 (右)賀梅伍銀寬獲榮譽博士學位。(梅氏公所提供)

梅伍銀寬和家人及好友陳建立夫婦(右)。(梅氏公所提供)

梅伍銀寬和家人及好友陳建立夫婦(右)。(梅氏公所提供)

塔芙茨大學網站上刊出的梅伍銀寬獲榮譽博士學位說明。(梅氏公所提供)

梅氏公所為梅伍銀寬製作的賀卡。(梅氏公所提供)

麻州州長候選人奚莉將以房屋可負擔性為優先處理議題

          (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 麻州總檢察長奚莉 (Maura Healey)6月4日獲得麻州民主黨黨代表大會提名參選麻州州長，6月5日在多徹斯特日遊行中表示，一旦當選，首要之務是處理房屋的可負擔性議題。

在民主黨黨代表大會中以高達71%的支持率獲得民主黨提名參選麻州州長後，奚莉幾乎已篤定將是麻州下任州長，但她謙虛表示，自己仍將積極競選，爭取每一位麻州居民的支持。

被問到一旦她當州長，首先會處理那些議題時，奚莉毫不猶豫地表示，房屋的可負擔性。

6月7日，她在出席大波士頓商會假海港酒店舉行的政府事務會議時再進一步指出，在麻州增加房屋及公寓數量，通常不是可由首席執法人員決定的事，但可負擔性其實已經直接影響商界了，因為在麻州托兒服務費用高居全美最貴之一下，員工們都搬到其他地方，或者離開職場，以照顧小孩了。

她說如何把蓬勃生機帶回城中區，未來的工作會是什麼模樣，都是目前很嚴重的問題，也經常和全州性的議題有關。”生活成本”正在啃蝕人們的安全網。讓房屋更加可負擔，已經有了經濟必要性。

奚莉說，無論是和麻州各地居民，或者是和企業執行長說話時，她聽到人們談得最多的問題就是房價高昂。

住在南端的奚莉認為，麻州必須增加房屋數量，放寬區域規劃障礙，擴大頭期款援助，以及購屋輔導服務，在鄰近公共交通工具地點蓋更多房屋。

她認為這類投資可增加首次購屋者數量，縮小麻州的族裔財富差距。

奚莉還說，麻州需要以所有語言，宣傳資源來確保無法上網的人們也都知道援助項目資訊，幫助社區實施他們自己的租金穩定政策。

她的競選政策大綱中關於房屋的7點內容，也描述著類似想法。她還支持藉由擴大建造房屋，來對抗無家流浪問題。  

                                                                                                      視頻製作: 周菊子

麻州公路上空發展權首個項目12號地段慶祝上樑

12地段發展項目上樑。 (周菊子攝)

還在施工中的第12號地段。 (周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報) 麻州公路上空發展權是個麻州人已聽聞不下40年的字眼，6月7日12號地段發展商Samuels & Associates邀請政要出席上樑儀式，讓人們開始想像柏克萊音樂學院斜對面，明年會有什麼樣的美景。

                座落在後灣區 (Back Bay) 麻州公路八線大道，以及鐵路軌道上空，隔著馬路就是麻州地鐵 (MBTA)綠線車站的這12號地段，一旦完工將出現2座樓宇，內有辦公室、實驗室及酒店。

                   這是個佔地79,050平方呎，樓宇面積655,683平方呎，由Samuels & Associates規劃，薩福克建築公司承包工程，將是波約斯頓街 (Boylston) 幾號還未確定的土地發展項目，早從2018年就遞交了發展意願，2021年12月獲得波士頓市計畫發展局批准施工，迄今已動用520噸鋼筋及預鑄水泥，蓋出了地基與骨架，竣工後，網路購車公司CarGurus公司的全球總部，M公民 (CitizenM)酒店，以及一個俯瞰高速公路的公眾廣場，都將座落其上。

                  根據麻州政府、波士頓市政府與發展商之間的協議，這項工程還將改善麻州大道的人行道，建造新的MBTA綠線地鐵站入口，以及通往海恩斯會議中心的行人隧道，翻修公車候車亭。

麻州州長查理貝克   (Charlie Baker)  強調這是個非場複雜的發展計畫。 (周菊子攝)

             應邀出席儀式的政要，從麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker)、副州長白莉朵

多名政要應邀出席。 (周菊子攝)

(Karen Polito)，麻州交通廳廳長Jamey L. Tesler，麻州眾議員Jon Santiago，Jay Livingstone，波士頓市議員Kenzie Bok。

                代表波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)出席的波士頓市經濟機會及包容長Segun Idowu表示，吳弭市長特別對這個發展項目感到高興，因為這項目代表了公私兩界合作，開闢出新公眾空間，為小企業創造了新的經濟機會。吳弭市長最近才提案要撥款900萬元協助婦女及小企業進駐有如這項目所在的市區樞紐地帶。

             被稱為麻州公路上空發展權 (air-rights)的土地項目，除了12號地段外，還有7號地段，正由IQHQ生命科學發展公司和Meredith 管理公司合作，要在芬衛球場 (Fenway Park)旁的麻州公路上空蓋一棟價值10億元的實驗室大樓，以及WS發展公司要在海港區的夏日街400號動工。

麻州副州長Karen Polito。  (周菊子攝)

             麻州州長查理貝克在慶祝儀式中致詞，稱這是個極端複雜，非常不容易的發展計畫，改善了公共交通，更新了基礎設施，能夠落實，是因為大家都希望能為麻州及波士頓居民建造更好，更安全的環境，而這也正是他所統領政府從一開始就強調的目標。

              CarGurus執行長Jason Trevisan也出席了上樑儀式，聲稱該公司有員工將近1000人，是一家正快速成長中的科技公司。該公司在2019年底，新冠病毒疫情爆發前，簽約租用12號地段。去年該公司把租用面積減少至225,428平方呎。發展商Samuel也向波士頓市政府申請把剩餘的將近120,000平方呎樓宇面積的用途，從辦公室大樓轉作實驗室空間。

波士頓市經濟機會及包容長 Segun Idowu。 (周菊子攝)

右起，麻州眾議員Jon Santiago，Jay Livingstone，波士頓市議員Kenzie Bok。   (周菊子攝)

Samuels & Associates的Steve Samuels。 (周菊子攝)

麻州交通廳廳長Jamey L. Tesler (周菊子攝)

 

CarGurus 執行長Jason Trevisan。 (周菊子攝)

AG HEALEY REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH BOSTON HOUSING PROVIDER FOR FAILING TO ACCOMMODATE A YOUNG CHILD’S DISABILITY

AG HEALEY REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH BOSTON HOUSING PROVIDER FOR FAILING TO ACCOMMODATE A YOUNG CHILD’S DISABILITY

Child with Asthma Exposed to Secondhand Smoke and Rodent Infestation; Case Is Part of AG’s Ongoing Efforts to Combat Housing Discrimination in Massachusetts, Including New Guidance for Landlords and Tenants 

            BOSTON – A property management company and its owner have agreed to pay $35,000 in restitution and implement no smoking policies in its Roxbury and Dorchester affordable housing units, to settle allegations that they unlawfully denied a tenant and their young disabled child the reasonable accommodations necessary to address secondhand smoke and a rodent infestation that posed a serious health risk to the child, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

To help educate landlords, tenants, and those in the real estate business about requirements to provide reasonable housing accommodations, the AG’s Office today issued new resource guidance with information on state and federal housing laws. The AG’s Office also issued guidance for tenants on what to do when conditions in a home negatively impact their health or the health of a family member. Both resources guides are available in English and Spanish.

“Housing providers cannot deny tenants their right to a safe and sanitary home,” said AG Healey. “My office is committed to enforcing nondiscrimination and other laws that protect vulnerable tenants from living in conditions that make them sick, and we will continue to educate landlords and tenants about their rights and obligations under the law when it comes to apartment conditions and accommodations.”

            According to the AG’s settlement with Peabody Properties, Inc., a large property management company, and the apartment’s owner, JPNDC Pitts MM LLC, the two companies violated the state's antidiscrimination and consumer protection laws by failing to make a reasonable accommodation for a young child with asthma, despite repeated requests from the child’s parent and medical team. JPNDC Pitts and Peabody Properties allegedly failed to adequately address secondhand smoke that was seeping into their apartment and failed to mitigate a serious rodent infestation in the building that was aggravating the child’s asthma. While the two companies initially provided air purifiers for the family’s unit at the time they moved in, the air purifiers did not abate the presence of secondhand smoke in the unit and the child suffered serious medical consequences as a result. Requests from the child’s parent and medical team to transfer to a non-smoking unit as further reasonable accommodation were ignored, and the child’s health worsened as a result.

Under the terms of the settlement, JPNDC Pitts and Peabody Properties have agreed to pay the family $35,000, to implement a no smoking policy across the entire JPNDC portfolio of affordable housing units – which includes more than 200 units in the Boston area – and develop a plan to ensure the policy is enforced. Peabody Properties has also agreed to assist the family in accessing waitlists for properties outside of the JPNDC Pitts property portfolio that are smoke-free.

            This case was referred to the AG’s Office from the Boston Fair Housing Commission, which found probable cause that the two companies failed to provide a reasonable accommodation.

AG Healey has been a leader in combatting housing discrimination in Massachusetts and has taken similar action involving discrimination against tenants with disabilities. In 2021, the AG’s Office reached a settlement with the Boston Housing Authority to resolve allegations that it denied a tenant and child with significant health issues access to suitable housing. During Fair Housing Month in April, the AG’s Office announced the resolution of four housing discrimination cases in which tenants were refused housing due to their receipt of public assistance. In the same month, AG Healey reached agreements with two companies as part of an ongoing investigation into the tenant screening and background check industry for potential discriminative algorithms being used to screen prospective tenants for housing. Additionally, in 2020, several South Shore real estate brokers resolved an investigation by the AG’s Office into allegations that they discriminated against prospective tenants based on receipt of public assistance.

 

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office is committed to enforcing the state’s antidiscrimination laws and encourages those who have concerns about housing discrimination to call the office’s Civil Rights Division at 617-963-2917 or to file a complaint online.

 

Today’s settlement matter was handled by Managing Attorney Amanda Hainsworth of AG Healey’s Civil Rights Division, with assistance from Ciara Tran of the AG’s Civil Investigations Division.

 

To view the AG’s reasonable accommodations resource guide for housing in English, click here. For Spanish, click here.  

 

To view the AG’s guidance on tenant rights related to apartment conditions in English, click here. For Spanish, click here.

第126屆波士頓馬拉松賽為非牟利機構籌得3560萬元

 126^th Boston Marathon Raises $35.6 Million For Area Non-Profits

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that $35.6 million was raised for more than 200 non-profit organizations through this year’s 126^th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 18. The B.A.A. Official Charity Program and the John Hancock Non-Profit Program have combined to raise more than $460 million since the charity program’s inception at the 1989 Boston Marathon.

The $35.6 million raised this year includes donations raised through the B.A.A.’s Official Charity Program, the John Hancock Non-Profit Program, and from other qualified and invitational runners. A total of 2,566 participants ran as fundraising athletes at the 126^th Boston Marathon. Further details can be found on the Boston Marathon’s fundraising page through GivenGain.

“The non-profit community across Greater Boston is resilient, and, as a non-profit itself, the B.A.A. takes great pride in being a catalyst for more than 200 charitable organizations to raise critical funds in support of their missions,” said Nicole Juri, the B.A.A.’s Director of Development. “The return to our full field size and traditional Patriots' Day date enabled our non-profit partners to raise even greater funds for a variety of meaningful causes.”

“It is outstanding to see the funds raised by this year’s Boston Marathon participants, all in support of non-profit organizations that are a driving force for our community and carry personal meaning for so many,” said Marianne Harrison, president and CEO of John Hancock. “We are committed to making lives better by empowering sustained health and well-being, and we are grateful to help bring that mission to life through the John Hancock Non-Profit Program. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this year’s race so inspiring and impactful.”

Earlier this year, the B.A.A. and John Hancock held the first-ever Boston Marathon Giving Day, which resulted in more than $1.1 million in donations over a 24-hour period to the 200 non-profit programs affiliated with the 126th Boston Marathon. Boston Marathon Giving Day was the second largest single day of donations to non-profits connected to the race, behind 2018 #GivingTuesday.

The B.A.A. annually provides non-profits associated with the B.A.A. Official Charity Program and John Hancock’s Non-Profit Program with invitational entries into the Boston Marathon. Each non-profit organization directly manages its own application process, athlete selection, and fundraising minimums, deadlines, and requirements.

The 126^th Boston Marathon marked the first Patriots’ Day race since 2019 and featured a 98.4% finish rate, with 24,918 athletes from 111 different countries and all 50 states earning their unicorn medals.

The B.A.A. will notify non-profit organizations who have been selected to participate in the 127^th Boston Marathon as part of the B.A.A. Official Charity Program in Summer 2022. More information can be found on the B.A.A. Official Charity Program and the John Hancock Non-Profit Program.

The next B.A.A. event is the B.A.A. 10K presented by Brigham and Women’s Hospital on Sunday, June 26. Athletes can register online and compete with Boston Marathon champions and Olympians. Media interested in covering the 2022 B.A.A. 10K may apply for credentials here.

波士頓慈濟人文學校歡送7人畢業 表揚吳慧柔、賴思涵獲美東榮譽 不捨張秀玲離任

畢業班學生和家長合影。 (周菊子攝)

        (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州牛頓市報導) 「感恩、尊重、愛」加「信心和勇氣」。波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏在6月6日的畢業典禮中，鼓勵、祝福7名畢業生，要無所畏懼，將來回校當助教，參加慈少，回饋社區。

波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏(左二)請波士頓經文處處長孫儉元 (左起)，波士頓慈濟
負責人長金滿，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮擔任頒獎嘉賓。 (周菊子攝)

             波士頓慈濟人文學校是個很特別的學校，不只教中文，還教授靜思語，茶道、花道、棋藝、親子蔬食，創意素食、國畫、羽毛球、舞蹈、皮影戲等豐富的人文及文化課程。目前全校共有學生大約100人，語言課老師11人，文化及人文課老師約20人。

得獎學生和嘉賓合影。 (周菊子攝)

             在今年的畢業典禮中，學校安排的學生表演，也充分展現該校著眼於人文角度的教學內容，應用現代科技，揉合影音教材的不同學習模式。從幼中、幼大班及一年級學生以手語表演「幸福的臉」，二年級朗讀「阿羅有枝彩色筆」，三年級表演短劇「老鼠娶新娘」，四年級朗讀短劇「愛心樹」，五年級朗讀短劇「戰火下的小花」，六年級以影片展示朗讀繞口令，八年級以影片介紹寵物，到九年級演出「皮影戲」，都讓座中家長們看得饒有趣味。

             七年級學生原本預定表演合唱「高山青」，因老師臨時無法參加，表演也就取消了。

波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏頒美東榮譽學生獎給吳慧柔。 (周菊子攝)

             波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏指出，該校的豐富文化課程，大都是曾任美東中文學校協會會長，現任波士頓慈濟人文學校人文課主任的張秀玲，以無比熱情設計，並帶動老師們教授，沒有她，該校不會有那麼豐富，那麼高水準的文化課程，如今她因工作關係將喬遷他州，讓人非常不捨。

             波士頓慈濟人文學校今年在牛頓市慈濟會所舉行的畢業典禮，分高、低年級2個組別舉行，不但有頒獎儀式，還安排每個年級學生分別表演，展現學習成果。

波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏頒美東優秀學生獎給賴思涵。 (周菊子攝)

             在畢業典禮中，波士頓慈濟負責人長金滿代為頒發美國白宮總統獎給8名慈少，波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏和人文課主任張秀玲頒獎給慈悲大挑戰，演講比賽，靜思語繪畫比賽，校外朗誦比賽、正體字比賽等優勝者，還特地表揚獲得美東中文學校協會優秀學生獎的賴思涵，獲榮譽學生獎的吳慧柔。

             王筠婷、林宸安、魏韶琳、黃彥霖、賴思涵、魏 慬、吳慧柔等6女1男的畢業生，分別從校長手中領取畢業證書，還用中文說了一段學習心得。

住在羅德島州，卻不辭路遠來波士頓慈濟人文學校當人文課主任的張秀玲，即將喬遷華府，
離開學校。她表示在慈濟有一家人的感覺，很感恩有機會和大家相處一段歲月。 (周菊子攝)

            駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮這天都作為嘉賓，應邀出席。孫儉元處長在致詞時表示，畢業既是一個階段的結束，也是另一階段的開始，他勉勵畢業生們在學習華語這條路上繼續堅持下去。他還指出台灣在這方面有很多資源，許多高中、大學都辦有和美國學校交流的項目，政府也設有華語獎學金，鼓勵人們學華語，希望同學們充分利用。他也強調要感謝僑教學校老師們不辭辛苦的在海外傳承中華文化。

波士頓慈濟負責人長金滿代表頒發美國白宮總統獎給得獎慈少。

            這場由教務主任劉品貝，副主任廖素圓規劃，並由廖素圓主持，在波士頓慈濟位於牛頓市會所舉行的畢業典禮結束後，波士頓慈濟人文學校還舉辦了一場戶外園遊會，有學生現場表演才藝，有戶外遊戲，還有宋永麒老師示範太極書法，鄧淑芳與僑教中心主任潘昭榮擺的書攤，慈濟師姊們做了波霸奶茶，精美自助餐供學生及家長們享用。 (更新版)

麻州州務卿選舉 Sullivan挑戰Galvin 辦3場轉播辯論

 Tanisha Sullivan Challenges Secretary Bill Galvin to Three Broadcast Debates

On heels of MassDems endorsement at convention, Sullivan declares debates are needed “so voters can learn more about the difference in our visions for the office”

June 6, 2022 — Today, Tanisha Sullivan, who is now officially on the ballot against William Galvin for MA Secretary of State, issued a challenge for him to participate in at least three live broadcast debates between now and the Democratic primary, scheduled for Sept. 6. 

“There is no office in Massachusetts with more of a duty or responsibility to advance the fullness of our democracy than the office of Secretary of State. It is about more than registering people to vote or issuing certificates of good standing, and voters deserve to learn more about what this office could and should be,” said Sullivan. “I challenge Secretary Galvin to participate in at least three broadcast debates so voters can understand the difference in our visions for the office.”

‘GBH has offered to host an informal debate between Ms. Sullivan and Secretary Galvin on “Greater Boston” with Jim Braude as moderator, which the campaign has committed to and scheduling for early August. 

With 62.4% of delegates voting for Sullivan at this past weekend’s Democratic Convention, a super majority, she earned MassDems’ endorsement and became the first woman of color to receive the party’s endorsement in a statewide race. Sullivan easily surpassed the 15% threshold needed to get on the primary ballot.