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星期三, 2月 26, 2014

摩頓市長放影片發表市情咨文 藉科技加強與市民溝通

摩頓市市長葛帝生(Gary Christenson)昨(24)日在摩頓商會早餐會中,創紀錄的以錄影片發表市情咨文,報告摩頓市過去一年成就,說明市府重視利用科技為民服務,正推動摩頓市成為一個適宜徒步,可騎自行車的城市,三月份將推出新市府網站cityofmalden.org.,預定三月十四日推出www.shoplocalmalden.com網站。
葛帝生在市情咨文中強調了摩頓市去年有多家企業開張。在該市策略及企業發展官(Strategy and Business Development Officer)杜飛(Kevin Duffy)為企業提供一站式的申請牌照服務下,有不下20家新企業開張。城中區增加了350 個就業機會。
根據可靠消息,摩頓市在2014年內即將新開張的商店,至少有三家是華人經營的卡拉OK等娛樂企業。摩頓市長23 日為摩頓市有史以來的第一家生物科技公司 In Vitro ADMET 實驗室進駐剪彩。該公司創辦人兼執行長李百雄(Albert Li)也是華人。
摩頓市市長葛帝生昨日藉著該市通訊長Ron Cochran爲他製作的路影片,報告了很多好消息,包括標準普爾評等服務(Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services)把摩頓是的債信評級升了三級,達到摩頓市有史以來最高程度等。美國新聞及世界報導(U.S. News and World Report)把摩頓高中,神秘谷區域特許學校選為麻州的50所最佳高中之一。
壞消息有州政府的2015會計年度預算,再度讓地方市府承受很大壓力。其中憲法第70章的學校補助,增加了不到1%的一半。摩頓市去年曾一次性的撥款五百萬元來補足學校部門預算,今年勢必再面對諸多挑戰,會有許多困難決定要做。
葛帝生報告了很多摩頓市府去年以來,以及今年將做到的事,包括市政府大樓將拆遷,以振興市中心經濟,本月開始維修以前由國家電網公司擁有的街燈,摩頓市府並將在正式擁有這3700個街燈後,開始把傳統電燈換成液晶(LED)電燈。摩頓市府去年鋪了42條街,種了150多株新樹,更換了長約五哩的大水管。2014年計劃維修,更換一萬尺長的大水管,整修四萬尺的下水道。
摩頓市採用委員會建議,更新十字路口景觀,安裝了許多明顯的指示路牌,幫助民眾,遊客在市內遊逛。摩頓市也在鄰接摩頓市和艾維瑞市(Everett),可穿越摩頓市,瑞維爾市(Revere),索格斯鎮(Saugus),到林市(Lynn)水前區的路上建了一條長九哩的自行車道,
在市政府大樓拆遷上,葛帝生指出,經由麻州長派區克(Deval Patrick)的“麻州工作(MassWorks)基礎設施項目“,摩頓市獲得三百萬元進行可行性研究,並於上週四和 傑弗遜(Jefferson)公寓集團簽署了土地處置協議,將在市政府大樓及警察局目前所在地,建造一棟靠近公共交通工具,設計前衛的綜合用途大樓。
2013年內,摩頓市新聘了消防局長Jack Colangeli,警察局長Kevin Molis。在市議會支持下,消防局購買了新的,雲梯車。在一項補助款支持下,摩頓是還製作了一本多語言的防火小冊,幫助民眾辨認跡象,防範火災。
消防局正在和Lojack公司的安全網(SafetyNet 合作,要使用電子追蹤系統,幫助有需要的居民,追蹤有辨識困難者行蹤。
警察局部分增加了人手,包括安置一名家暴警探,便衣反罪警官,新聘兩名學校資源警察,以及城中巡邏警員等。警察局還創紀錄地起用了一名“犯罪分析師”,辨識各種犯罪模式,趨勢。
為保護居民安權,摩頓市府還在全市關鍵地點,安裝了30個監視錄影機,以致2013年底時,和2012年相比,犯罪率下降了14%
摩頓市公共圖書館為市內成人及兒童提供了一系列的電子資源,包括幫助人們學習各種語言的芒果(Mango)語言學習服務。
摩頓事去年聘用了330名青少年做暑期工。 摩頓市府還獲得北岸區域就業局資助二萬五千元,聘用了19名符合資助要求的青少年,從去年十一月工作到今年五月。
摩頓市府還利用充分科技,促進市民與政府的互動,包括採用SeeClickFix工具,讓民眾見到市內各種與生活品質有關的問題,立即舉報。在麻州使用這一程式的50 個城市中,摩頓市的使用率排名第一。在加強市民與市府的互動上,摩頓市還將推出三項新計劃,包括311呼叫中心,新的“我的摩頓市(MyMalden)”應用程式,以及和Granicus合作,讓民眾更容易查看市府動態的網路平台。

圖片說明:

            摩頓市長葛帝生(左Gary Christenson)(左)昨日表示,摩頓市很幸運有余翠梅這樣的居民。(菊子攝)


            In Vitro ADMET 實驗室就座落在摩頓市主街389號的這棟大樓內。(菊子攝)

藝聯慈善社慶新春 盼年輕人加入公益服務行列

波城藝聯慈善社元老文振賢(前左二)起,與主席鄭慧民,黃賢池,英文書記黃愛梅等
幹部向出席嘉賓敬酒。(周菊子攝)
(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波城藝聯慈善社廿四日週一晚,在龍鳳酒樓席開55桌,請馬仕威樂隊現場演唱,捐五紅包支持華埠慈善機構,以乳鴿等佳餚美食與會員同歡,盛大慶祝馬年新春。
            藝聯主席鄭慧民會後透露,藝聯現在最需要的就是“新血”,亟盼有更多年輕人加入,傳承藝聯熱心公益,服務社區的成立宗旨。
 波城藝聯慈善社主席鄭慧民(左),黃賢池(右)代表該社捐紅包給中華頤養院,由
陳毓璇代領。(
周菊子攝)
            藝聯的新春慶祝會,在華林派醒獅團採青獻桔後,藝聯主席鄭慧民,黃賢池,先後致歡迎詞,答謝詞。紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦,駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長洪慧珠,波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文等嘉賓一一致詞,拜年。
陳毓禮致詞。左起為鄭慧民,文振賢,黃賢池,黃愛沒。
獲指派補位,今年需參加選舉的薩福克郡治安官Steven W. Tompkins,波市議員提多傑克遜(Tito Jackson)也在阮鴻燦引介下,到會拜年。
            馬仕威樂隊六人組當晚現場唱奏。梅偉文打鼓,梅凱彬,蔡倩婷獻唱,為出席嘉賓提供餘興節目,唱了鄧麗君名曲“一見你就笑”等不少老歌。
紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦(右二)與波城藝聯慈善社主席鄭慧民(右四)帶著薩福克郡
治安官
Steven W. Tompkins
(左三)逐桌拜會。這桌有陳家驊(左起),陳毓禮,陳毓璇,
陳滋源等人。(
周菊子攝)
當晚有 不少出席者或應邀,或自告奮勇,甚至拿起手機當卡拉OK歌詞機,高歌一曲的與眾人分享新春喜悅。其中梅惠聰唱的“勝利雙手創”,經文處處長洪慧珠唱的“小城故事”,都是座中眾人耳熟能詳的歌曲。
            席間,藝聯慈善社捐贈紅包給中華廣教學校,中華耆英會,中華頤養院,中華總會,僑立中文學校,聊表該社支持機構,團體為華人社區服務之心意。
經文處處長洪慧珠唱“小城故事”。(周菊子攝)
            波城藝聯慈善社是大波士頓僑團中最特殊的一個團體,成員來自五湖四海,包括各個姓氏。1957年成立時,主要宗旨是協助初來乍到新移民,覓居所,找工作,辦身份,安居樂業。不論是合法入境,或非法跳船的移民,只要是華人,藝聯慈善都慨伸援手。
  梅凱彬(左起),鄭慧民,陳國航,李源沛,蔡倩婷,阮鴻燦等人在會中合唱。
周菊子攝)
            2014是波城藝聯慈善社第62屆農曆新春慶祝會。社內幹部,已有在艾克頓鎮開孟嘗軒餐廳(Makaha),現年55歲的主席鄭慧民,在銀行界工作的英文書記黃愛梅等藝聯第二代接掌重任。
            元老文振賢,何木成,以及主席黃賢池,中文書記陳廉,財政鄭炳昌,陳直光,樓業管理梁達強,核數吳永超,陳煥權,幹事葉炳華,梁欽長,曾錦源等,則是年紀多半已逾六、七十的老一輩會員。
波士頓僑教中心主任郭大文(後左一)走進席間,和出席者寒暄,敬酒。後左二為陳毓璇,
前左起為陳家驊,陳滋源夫婦,廣教學校校長曾秀芬,李小林夫婦。(
周菊子攝)
        主席鄭慧民坦言,早年的藝聯成員很有遠見,不但在哈佛街55號買下一棟高四層的住宅樓,還在森林丘(Frost Hill)墳場買下許多福地,使得該社財力充裕,不但能每年捐款支持社區內的慈善機構辦理公益事業,24日晚也得以置辦一桌逾450元的春宴。由於該社六十多名會員,大都年事已高,為將來傳承著想,現正積極努力尋覓有熱心,肯做事,關切華人社區,福祉的年輕人加入,下一步或者先從設立獎學金開始。


麻州濫用海洛英致死人數大增 三個半月185人喪生

麻州濫用毒品致死情況加劇。麻州警察昨(24)日表示,從去年十一月一日至今,麻州內至少有185人因海洛英過量而死。
麻州警察表示,該局兇殺案小組已報告了185宗個案,但那數目還不包括麻州最大三市,波士頓市,屋斯特市(Worcester),春田市(Springfield)的記錄,
麻州警察發言人David Procopio表示,根據警方的經驗,這些數目絕對代表戠因海落英過量致死的比率增加了。
185人死亡這數目,是兇殺案小組根據麻州各地方檢察官辦公室從十一月一日以來的數據,統計出來的。David Procopio表示,從十一月一日這天開始計算,是因為該局去年開始採用了新的個案追蹤系統。
伯克夏爾郡(Berkshire)地方檢察官辦公室的兇殺案探員,報告了兩宗疑似吸毒過量死亡案。其他郡報告的數目包括,布里斯托34宗,鱈魚角及島嶼9宗,韓頓(Hampden)12宗,益士石郡22宗,米斗塞郡30宗,諾福克郡(Norfolk15宗,普利矛斯郡﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽詞,拜年。或(Plymouth)20宗,薩福克郡(Suffolk)10宗,屋斯特郡(Worcester)12 宗。

審訊法庭的首席法官週一時表示,麻州的公共健康安全出現危機,需要快速,全面因應。聯邦參議員馬基(Ed Markey)週一也在陶頓(Tauton)市說,從來沒見過海洛英為害到這種情況。

These 185 deaths occurred from Nov. 1 2013 to the present day. These are all fatalities. They do not count non-fatal overdoses.

These were compiled by State Police homicide units (SPDU) attached to each of the state’s district attorney’s offices and reflect the entire state except for the three cities in which MA state police do not lead death investigations – Boston, Springfield, and Worcester. In those three cities, local police handle their own death investigations.

Of the 185 deaths attributed to heroin overdoses in that time period, there are large concentrations in southeastern Mass., the Merrimack Valley, and western Mass. hill town counties. (A high number in Middlesex County, which is expected because that is the largest county geographically).

MA state police instituted a new case management and tracking system for its Department of Investigative Services late last year, hence the start of counting in November.  Because of the new system, number of a similar time period preceding these last four months for comparison purposes is not available . MA state police's experience and accumulated knowledge, however, indicates that these numbers absolutely represent an increased rate of fatal heroin overdoses.
MA star police stated that there could be three contributing factors: 1.) A very potent strain of heroin flooding the streets; 2.) Suppliers cutting heroin with a synthetic substance – perhaps the extremely potent Fentanyl – that increased the drug’s toxicity; and 3.) Frequent poly-drug use (use of heroin simultaneous with other drugs, i.e., Percocet). Those remain possible contributing factors. Add to those one more probable factor, the fact that heroin is more readily available and easier for users to obtain than other opiates or prescription narcotics. 
MA state police is continuing to investigate and analyze the problem in conjunction with local police partners. They firmly believe that it is a problem that cannot be solved solely by arrests, although street enforcement is vital. Treatment and public education components are equally essential. Once we are able to gather more information we will release it to the public.

Below is the fatal heroin overdose breakdown per county, from November 2013 to the present day (please remember that these do not include ODs from the cities of Boston, Springfield and Worcester).

Berkshire SPDU
2
Bristol SPDU
34
Cape & Island SPDU
9
Essex SPDU
22
Hampden SPDU
12
Hampshire/Franklin SPDU
19
Middlesex SPDU
30
Norfolk SPDU
15
Plymouth SPDU
20
Suffolk SPDU
10
Worcester SPDU
12
Total
185

GOVERNOR PATRICK APPOINTS JAMIE WILLIAMSON AS CHAIR OF MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION AGAINST DISCRIMIATION

GOVERNOR PATRICK APPOINTS JAMIE WILLIAMSON AS CHAIR OF MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION AGAINST DISCRIMIATION

BOSTON – Tuesday, February 25, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced the appointment of Jamie R. Williamson as Chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). Williamson has served as a Commissioner of MCAD since 2010.

“I am honored to appoint Jamie as Chair of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination,” said Governor Patrick. “Jamie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help us bring an end to discrimination and promote equal justice.”
Williamson was previously in charge of MCAD’s Springfield office,  where she oversaw the administration, adjudication and education of civil rights matters for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Williamson replaces the previous Chair, Julian Tynes, who is now serving as the Director of Labor Relations for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

“As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, I am both humbled and honored to be appointed Chairman by Governor Patrick to represent, lead and serve the Commonwealth’s premier civil rights agency, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination,” said Williamson. “I look forward to carrying out its mission and addressing the current civil rights issues that impact the citizens and businesses of the Commonwealth.”

Prior to joining the MCAD, Williamson served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center in Holyoke, a private nonprofit fair housing organization serving central and western Massachusetts. In 2005, Williamson was appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts to serve on the Access to Justice Commission. This Commission was created by the Supreme Court to provide leadership, vision and coordination to the multitude of organizations and interests involved in assuring access to civil justice for families and individuals in the Commonwealth.

In 1995, Williamson became the first AfricanAmerican woman to serve on the Pittsfield City Council and the first AfricanAmerican to serve atlarge. Over the years she has served on the boards of a number of community and charitable organizations including the Red Cross, Berkshire Medical Center, the Rotary and the Norman Rockwell Museum. She is a graduate of Smith College in Northampton and currently resides in Springfield with her husband William Marley Jr. 

“The MCAD is a vitally important agency in our communities, and the high-quality appointment of Jamie Williamson as Chair is exactly what the MCAD needs,” said Judge William Abrashkin. “Jamie is fair minded, andcommitted both to combatting discrimination and to maintaining balance in the Commission's work. Equally important, she will bring excellent administrative skills to this position. I know Jamie will work within our communities to build coalitions and provide public education as we strive towards the goal of ending discrimination in all of its forms." 

"The MCAD Advisory Board has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Commissioner Williamson since she was first appointed by Governor Patrick to the MCAD in August 2010, and we look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role as Chair,” said Thomas Gallitano, Chair of the MCAD Advisory Board.

波士頓大學專文描繪一代中國留學生

http://www.bu.edu/bostonia/winter-spring14/china/