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星期四, 5月 02, 2013

A-1區犯罪率下降25%


波士頓市警察局A-1區警長李湯姆(Tom Lee)(1)日在華埠治安委員會會議中表示,地方治安持續有改善,整個A-1區的犯罪率降低了25%
            昨日在雙樹酒店(Double Tree Hotel)舉行的五月份華埠治安委員會會議,議程清淡,亞美社區發展協會的24號地段進展報告,延至下月再報,漢米頓(Hamilton)地產公司董事長Stephen Weinig和律師Andrew H. Kara陳情,請委員會支持該公司申請延長三年,益士石街(Essex)85號的停車許可,並表示將種些花草,以美化該一地段。
與會者查問該一地點的位置後,除警長李湯姆表示該一地段應增加夜間照明外,無人反對該一申請。華埠治安委員會主席陳灼鋆要求漢米頓公司520日晚到華埠社區議會再度說明,通過支持該一申請。
            Stephen Weinig在會場回答提問時還透露,漢米頓公司有意未來在該一地段建一六層樓高,約3035個單位的出租住宅大樓,估計會在3年內進行開發計劃,目前正和設計公司做規劃討論。
            警長李湯姆報告的華埠地區上個月犯罪記錄為3宗搶案,2宗破門而入偷盜案,7宗盜竊案,2宗從車輛偷盜案,發出47張車輛違規罰單,325張停車罰單。有24人被逮捕,其中12人因已發出的逮捕令而就逮。
            3宗搶案,分別在華盛頓街和尼倫街交界處附近,夏利臣街和尼倫街交界處等。其中一人被搶數百元,一名喝得爛醉的流浪漢被搶走10元,一名從匹茲堡來的遊客,被搶走兩隻iphone
            會中,綠路保護會的維護和安全監督Robert Stigberg表示,華埠公園一帶毒販及吸毒者問題嚴重,有時甚至多達10名這樣的人,散佈公園內,對民眾的安全使用公園,形成影響。
            大同村管理經理翁麗芳在會中透露,該村居民過去幾個月來,在公共空間中,時不時聞到類似大麻的強烈味道,希望警方協助該村解決該一問題。
            中華耆英會行政主任梅伍銀寬在會中報告,新康樂樓第一期工程已取得入住許可,舊康樂樓居民正陸續遷入。該會希望警局派員為居民舉辦一次安全講座。
            李湯姆透露,A-1區上週六才新增一名亞裔警員,沙展Jimmy Chin,他們將可派出能通雙語的警員,為康樂樓居民做講談。


圖片說明:

            漢米頓(Hamilton)地產公司董事長Stephen Weinig()和律師Andrew H. Kara()陳情,盼延長益士石街85號的停車許可3年。(菊子攝)

            波士頓市警察局A-1區警長李湯姆(Tom Lee)(左一)報告整個A-1區的犯罪率降低了25%(菊子攝)

波士頓體育協會(BAA)捐給波士頓一基金25萬元


波士頓馬拉松賽的主辦單位,波士頓體育協會(B.A.A.)(2)日宣佈,捐款25萬元給波士頓一基金(The One Fund Boston, Inc.),以期為415日的波士頓馬拉松賽爆炸案中受影響最嚴重者聊盡心意。
            波士頓體育協會創立於1897年。該會董事長Joann Flaminio表示,該會要向1300名醫護人員,7200名義工,組織委員會,以及在第一時間衝往現場,拯救人們生命的波士頓市第一反應員們(first responders)致敬。
            該會在持續向慘案中的受害者表達最深同情,繼續處理相關事務之餘,將開始把注意力轉移到籌備2014年賽事上。
            根據波士頓一基金網站記錄,截至昨晚,募得的捐款額已達28372565元。其中有1764萬餘來自企業捐贈,1千零73萬餘元來自社會大眾。
            第118屆波士頓馬拉松賽預定2014年4月21日舉行。


B.A.A. Contributes $250,000 Donation to The One Fund Boston, Inc.

Fund supports victims and families affected by the tragic events of April 15, 2013.

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), organizer of the Boston Marathon® since its inception in 1897, today announced a $250,000 donation to The One Fund Boston, Inc., which was organized to benefit those most affected by the tragic events that occurred in Boston on April 15, 2013.

“We express our deepest gratitude to the B.A.A.’s 1300 medical personnel, 7200 volunteers, and organizing committee, along with the City of Boston’s first responders, who reacted quickly and courageously to save lives,” said Joann Flaminio, B.A.A. President. “Their tireless efforts and their dedication remains with us as we begin to move forward.  Our thoughts continue to be with the victims, all of those injured, and their families.”

“In the days since April 15, Boston has experienced a worldwide outpouring of support and solidarity,” said Thomas Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. “We have witnessed incredible bravery, strength, and resilience from the people of this city. The B.A.A. continues to extend its deepest sympathies to all of those who were affected by this tragedy. As we continue to address matters relating to the 2013 Boston Marathon, we also will begin to turn our attention to the 2014 race.”

Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the formation of The One Fund Boston, Inc. as the main charitable effort for donations to benefit victims and their families. Individuals and corporations from around the world, including Boston Marathon sponsors, have combined to donate more than $28 million to The One Fund. For more information on The One Fund, please visit www.onefundboston.org.

The 118th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 21, 2014.

麻州已達2017年太陽能目標 將另訂新標


PATRICK-MURRAY ADMINISTRATION REACHES 2017 SOLAR ENERGY TARGET, SETS NEW GOAL
BOSTON – Wednesday, May 1, 2013 – Governor Deval Patrick today joined Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan and other energy officials to celebrate 250 megawatts of solar energy installed – reaching the Patrick-Murray Administration’s goal four years early – and announced a new goal of 1,600 MW by 2020.
“When we set ambitious goals and invest in achieving them, Massachusetts wins,” said Governor Patrick. “The many businesses and homeowners who have taken advantage of cost effective renewable energy installations are helping to create both a safer and a more prosperous Commonwealth for the next generation.”
"By working with our legislative and municipal partners throughout the Commonwealth, we have achieved an ambitious goal far ahead of schedule while also supporting the state’s clean energy economy," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. "We will build on this momentum, and continue to invest in renewable energy to lead the nation in this growing industry."
Under Governor Patrick’s leadership, the amount of solar energy installed has increased 80 times from the 3 MW installed in 2007. Massachusetts has established strong incentives for renewable energy production that have led to significant cost reductions in solar electricity, making clean energy more accessible to Massachusetts businesses and residents.
“This exciting announcement is a direct result of Governor Patrick’s leadership in the clean energy revolution,” said Secretary Sullivan. “The initiatives and incentives we have established in Massachusetts are saving residents money, creating jobs and protecting our environment.”
“Massachusetts has a lot to celebrate, including the success we’ve had reducing the cost of solar,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “Those businesses, cities and towns, and homeowners who invest in renewable energy will reap the benefits of stable, reliable costs from this clean, local source of electricity.”
The Commonwealth’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Solar Carve-Out program has established a strong solar energy market in Massachusetts, with a current cap of 400 MW. As that target approaches, state energy officials are fast-tracking revisions to expand the program.
Residential solar electricity prices dropped 28 percent in Massachusetts in 2012, according to a report issued by the Solar Energy Industries Association in March 2013. This was the second biggest drop in the nation last year.
In addition to strengthening the RPS, the Green Communities Act, signed by Governor Patrick in 2008, established the Green Communities designation and grant program that provides technical assistance and incentives to support solar development in the Commonwealth’s municipalities. There are currently 110 designated Green Communities in the Commonwealth and nearly half of all Massachusetts residents live in a Green Community.
These targeted investments have led to economic growth and job creation. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report showed an 11.2 percent growth in Massachusetts clean energy jobs between 2011 and 2012. Nearly 5,000 clean energy firms employ more than 71,000 clean energy workers.
“The success of the solar industry and the clean energy sector as a whole is a testament to the commitment Massachusetts has made to become a renewable energy leader,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “While we celebrate the success of one goal, we’re excited to tackle the next, creating more local jobs and keeping more energy dollars here at home.”
The solar power installed in Massachusetts generates enough electricity to power more than 37,000 homes for a year, and when compared with fossil fuel-generated electricity, is the equivalent of eliminating the greenhouse gas emissions from nearly 26,000 cars a year.
When the new goal is reached, 1,600 MW of installed solar will generate enough electricity to power approximately 240,000 homes annually – the equivalent of 97 percent of Boston households – and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by about 166,000 cars.
“The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) applauds the Commonwealth’s phenomenal success in attracting investment, innovative companies and jobs while driving down costs,” said SEIA Senior Vice President of State Affairs Carrie Cullen Hitt. “Massachusetts ranks number seven in the nation for solar installations (2012) and number two for driving down costs, which dropped over 28 percent in 2012. We look forward to expanding this success with Governor Patrick and his team.”
Massachusetts sits at the end of the energy pipeline, spending billions of dollars annually to import all of its fossil fuel based energy sources from places like South America, Canada and the Middle East. That is lost economic opportunity that Massachusetts stands poised to reclaim through investments in home-grown renewable energy programs.

星期三, 5月 01, 2013

麻州聯邦參議員特別選舉 選民冷淡


(430)日暖陽高照,氣溫在華氏44度到60度之間,天氣很好,但麻州聯邦參議員特別選舉的初選投票率,顯然不高。截至下午5點左右,華埠一帶的3個投票站,投票數都只在400560之間。
            其中華埠信義大廈投票站已投出約384張票,南端(South End)法蘭克林學院投票站投出554張票,華盛頓街上天主教高中投票站投出約456票。
            3個投票站門外,冷清到連一張候選人的宣傳標語也沒,反倒是華盛頓街上天主教高中的第3小選區,第7號投票站,掛著一張馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)競選波市市長,吳弭(Michelle Wu)競選波市不分區市議員的競選牌。
            零星的幾名助選員,似乎也無人拉票。鄺寶蓮、駱理德等人,在華埠信義大廈投票站門外,隨機回答選民提問,順道為李素影助選。阮鴻燦、陳偉民等人,從信義大廈陸續轉往法蘭克林學院,為多名波士頓市長、市議員候選人,爭取簽名支持。
            根據選舉法,有意競選波士頓市的市長或市議員者,必須在517日之前,爭取到3000個有效簽名。由於有意競選市長者,據傳已多達24人,一眾選民可能在人情請託之下,同時簽名支持好幾名候選人,這時,那個候選人先把該一選民的支持簽名送交選務局,誰就能得到該一簽名,意外形成各候選人在選戰還未開打之前,先得打場爭取簽名戰的局面。
            波士頓環球報指出,這些市長候選人共須取得72000個不同人士的簽名,才有機會列名在九月的初選選票上。
            波士頓環球報指出,根據波市府的數據,昨日下午3點左右,共有37,401人投了票,等於9.6%左右的投票率。
            其他各地市鎮的出席投票率,也都很低。溫徹斯特(Winchester)鎮的其中一個選區,在早上8點半時,1800名登記選民中,只有57人投了票,其中還有14票是缺席投票的。
這場麻州聯邦參議員特別選舉的候選人共5名,包括民主黨2人、共和黨3人。民主黨的候選人為兩名現任聯邦眾議員,被形容為保守派的林奇(Stephen F. Lynch),以及被形容為自由派的聯邦眾議員馬基(Edward J. Markey)。共和黨的3名候選人,分別為曾任檢察官的保守派蘇利文(Michael J. Sullivan),曾為海軍海豹突擊隊員的生意人葛美茲(Gabriel E. Gomez),以及曾任區域法院法官,做了兩任麻州眾議員,諾弗克郡的溫斯羅(Daniel B. Winslow)


圖片說明:

            駱理德、鄺寶蓮、阮鴻燦、呂嘉媚等人在信義大廈投票站門前,都說這天出席投票的人好少。(菊子攝)

            陳偉民在法蘭克林學院投票站門外,請選民簽名支持第二區市議員林乃肯競選連任。(菊子攝)

13個月內 波士頓大學11名學生殞命


波士頓大學428日又有一名學生喪生。22歲的李彬蘭(譯音,Binland Lee)不幸在火災中遇難,該校過去這一年來殞命學生總數,高達11人。
            波士頓大學附近,位於奧斯頓(Allston)區,地址為林登(Linden)87號的一棟二家庭屋,428日清晨6點半,發生3級火警,19名租住該處的學生,15人受傷,1人死亡,其餘數人,當天不在住處。
            不幸死亡者為來自紐約布魯克林區(Brooklyn),就讀海洋科學系,下個月即將畢業的李彬蘭。
            該樓宇房東,住在牛頓市的Anna Belokurova,昨(430)日已被控非法分租房屋(illegal rooming house)。她還被控以未獲適當許可,就擅自在前述地址的地下室,加建睡房。波市稽查服務部(Inspectional Services Department)並勒令Anna Belokurova封存這已燒焦的三層樓房。
            有關當局目前仍在調查起火原因。           
薩福克郡(Suffolk) 地方檢察官康雷(Daniel F. Conley)已指派檢控官調查案件。
            波市相關條例規定,在一個住處之內,不可有多於4名無關係的本科大專生同住。有關當局表示,火災地點的19名居民中,有9人為波士頓大學學生。
            有關當局上次檢查該樓宇時,是1992年。當時該樓宇前業主申請把一棟單家庭屋改建成二家庭屋。
            對波士頓大學來說,這是又一個悲劇。該校在過去13個月中,因毫無理由的槍擊事件,交通意外,兄弟會的派對等,共失去11名學生。就在這個月發生的波士頓馬拉松賽爆炸案中,該校還才剛失去一名研究院學生呂令子,不到半個月,竟又再有一名學生在火災中喪生。
            波士頓大學共有33000名學生,大部份人並不認識逝去的這些學生,但都對一再發生的不幸,感到難過非常。該校校長羅伯布朗(Robert Brown)說,他和該校學生都忍不住要問,為什麼是波士頓大學,為什麼是他們,這些事為什麼會發生,實在很沒道理。
            一年前,波士頓大學管理學院的一名研究生,Kanagala Seshadri Rao清晨時分從住處趕往朋友家,要幫朋友做功課時,不幸遭槍殺。去年4月,一名藥劑系的博士生在租住的公寓內注射有毒化學物自殺了。5約時,3名在海外修課的該校學生,乘搭的箱型車在新西蘭翻車,因而喪生。去年夏天,一名博士候選人在土耳其的一個考古項目點摔死了。去年秋天,兩名學生在校園附近騎自行車時,被撞死了。11月時是修讀國際關係學,來自台灣的學生楊鍾偉(Chung-Wei “Victor” Yang),和MBTA巴士擦撞,一個月後,讀新聞系的Christopher Weigl在麻州大道上和一輛要轉彎的拖拉機拖車相撞。3月時,該校新鮮人Anthony Barksdale II在校外舉行的一個兄弟會派對中,被人發現不醒人事。

華埠六社團誌記世界太極日


來自大波士頓6個社團的數十人,428日在波士頓華埠公園裏演練太極功夫,藉以誌記每年4月最後一個週六是「世界太極日」這特別日子。
            少林洪家超武館、振舜太極拳總會、中華耆英會、華埠王氏青年會、大同村、公路村等四地的太極班,分別派出代表與會,在蘿絲甘迺迪綠地(Rose Kennedy Greenway)的華埠公園內,輪流上場,示範、演練太極拳,藉以切磋功夫,推廣健身運動,交流結友。
            少林洪家超武館館長胡炳超當天向出席者講談「五行太極」,指該法依太極陰陽消長規律、和五行(金木水火土)生克變化規律、加入五禽(龍蛇虎豹鶴)等形意、以及12橋手 、與道家真氣功等基本元素創編,包括「五行相生」:金生水,水生木,木生火,火生土等中國傳統理論。超武館學員隨後示範了五行太極拳法。
            振舜太極拳總會由教練司徒宗達介紹「世界太極日」的淵源。他說明聯合國世界衛生組織(UNWHO)已認可太極為健身運動,具改善肌肉功能,可提高身體的平衡性和靈活性。該會學員隨後演練了楊氏太極拳、楊氏太極劍、楊氏太極刀。
            青年會太極班教師薛劍童率學員演練了24式簡化太極拳。他表示,該一拳法源自楊式太極拳,1956年時由中國國家體育主管公佈為全中國太極拳基本教材,諸如下勢、獨立、攬雀尾等許多動作,都左右對稱,是公認自有太極拳以來,最普及的太極拳套路。
東方文化中心教練陳麗群(Linda Law)率眾示範了五行太極球。她表示,太極球以腰為主,旋轉運動脊椎,藉以達到調理和增强五臟六腑功能的功效,是防治脊椎病最有效方法。
公路村太極班指導劉華權表示,該村太極班在村內社區室舉行,風雨無阻的每天練習。村民都很喜歡這運動。
            中華耆英會、青年會、大同村、公路村等的太極學員,當天還聯合表演了24式太極拳、太極劍、太極功夫扇。
            慶祝世界太極日活動,最後以振舜太極拳總會教導現塲所有人練習108式楊氏太極拳第一段做總結。 

圖片說明:

全体参與者合照。胡炳超(左一) 、司徒宗達(二排右一) 、薛劍童(前左一)陳麗群(前右四)(圖由主辦單位提供)

少林洪家超武館人馬。(圖由主辦單位提供)

振舜太極拳總會教導現塲所有人練習108式楊氏太極拳。(圖由主辦單位提供)

千佛寺五、六月活動多


麻州千佛寺將從54日起,陸續舉辦多項活動,分別邀得香港智耀法師、中國浙江傳喜法師抵埠,為本地信眾開示。
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該寺表示,以上講座歡迎善信參加。查詳情可洽617-773-1688

Top 25 Innovations in Government Announced


Top 25 Innovations in Government Announced
Cambridge, Mass., – May 1, 2013 – Today the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University announced the Top 25 programs in this year’s Innovations in American Government Award competition. These government initiatives represent the dedicated efforts of city, state, federal, and tribal governments and address a host of policy issues including crime prevention, economic development, environmental and community revitalization, employment, education, and health care. Selected by a cohort of policy experts, researchers, and practitioners, four finalists and one winner of the Innovations in American Government Award will be announced in the fall. A full list of the Top 25 programs is available here.
“These Top 25 innovations in government offer real, tangible ways to protect our most disadvantaged citizens, educate the next-generation workforce, and utilize data analytics to enhance government performance,” said Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Innovations in Government program at the Ash Center. “Despite diminishing resources, these government programs have developed model innovations that other struggling agencies should be inspired to replicate and adapt to their own communities.”

A Culture of Innovation
A number of this year’s Top 25 programs foster a new culture of innovation through online collaboration and crowdsourcing. Signaling a new trend in government, these programs encourage the generation of smart solutions to existing and seemingly intractable public policy problems. LAUNCH—a partnership among NASA, USAID, the State Department, and NIKE—identifies and scales up promising global sustainability innovations created by individual citizens and organizations. The General Services Administration’s Challenge.gov uses crowdsourcing contests to solve government issues: government agencies post challenges, and the broader American public is awarded for submitting winning ideas. The Department of Transportation’s IdeaHub also uses an online platform to encourage its employees to communicate new ideas for making the department more adaptable and enterprising. 

Helping Troubled Neighborhoods
Helping our nation’s most disadvantaged citizens and residents was also a common characteristic among this year’s Top 25. New York City’s Office of Financial Empowerment connects low-income New Yorkers with financial education counseling and asset-building services. Also in New York City, Homebase offers families at imminent risk of homelessness with customized services and support, so that they avoid losing their homes. The Department of Housing and Urban Development follows a similar model to Homebase; its targeted interventions through the Sustainable Communities Initiative are making a notable impact on crime, failing schools, poor infrastructure, and other interconnected causes of poverty.

Environmental Revitalization
Often hand-in-hand with struggling communities is the distressed land on which they reside. As a collaboration among the Yukon River Tribes and Nations—made up of 70 sovereign indigenous governments primarily based in Alaska—its Watershed Council follows an international governance model to protect the Yukon River and ensure its water is drinkable for generations to come. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Re-Powering America’s Land Initiative revitalizes degraded land, preserves existing green spaces, and encourages the development of environmentally-friendly, energy solutions.

The Next Generation Workforce
Several government initiatives tackle challenges to our education system and prepare students for employment opportunities. Metropolitan College in Louisville, Kentucky, collaborates with the private sector to equip students with the education skills and training necessary to become attractive workforce candidates upon graduation. Also targeting America’s next generation workforce, Alaska’s Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) trains Indigenous Americans for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Much like ANSEP, Rocketship Education of Santa Clara County, California, and Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers of New York’s Westchester County Public Schools leverage mentors, tutors, and special training programs to reduce the achievement gap in underperforming schools and improve career opportunities.

The Innovations in American Government Awards was created by the Ford Foundation in 1985 to shine a light on effective government programs. Since its inception, over 400 government innovations across all jurisdiction levels have been recognized and have collectively received more than $22 million in grants to support dissemination efforts. Such models of good governance also inform research and academic study. The Center also recently announced 13 programs as Bright Ideas, an initiative of the broader Innovations in American Government Awards program.

About the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation
The Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances excellence and innovation in governance and public policy through research, education, and public discussion. Three major programs support our mission: the Program on Democratic Governance; the Innovations in Government Program; and the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia. For more information, visit www.ash.harvard.edu.