第 23 屆全美青少年國畫書法比賽 68件作品獲獎

 

中華表演藝術基金會舉辦的第 23 屆全美青少年國畫書法比賽，日前經七名評審逾三小時檢閱，從 429 件作品中選出了 68 件 金銀銅佳作等得獎作品。

中華表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵表示，今年共有來自11 州，37 所中文學校、書畫學苑及個人的429件作品。其中國畫 287 件，書法 142 件，目前全部張貼在牛頓市僑教中心 (90 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands, MA)大廳四週牆壁上，供到訪民眾參觀，預定展至四月廿九日止。

68幅得獎作品，將在裝裱展出後，於五月三十日前後，上載到該會網頁 www.ChinesePerformingArts.net。

今年的參賽作品來自馬里蘭州、紐澤西州、加州、纽约州、明尼蘇達州、 德州、康州、佛羅里達州、佐治亚州、新墨西哥州、及麻州等 11 州的37 所中文學校、書畫學苑，以及個人參展者。

譚嘉陵指出，由於今年的參賽作品素質又明顯提昇，尤其是書法 組，件件精彩，讓人有美不勝收之感。藝評家暨專業藝術比賽評審朱蓉、曾任哈佛大學中國歷史教授，現為詩人，作者，藝術品收藏家的陸惠風、波士頓大學中國藝術史教授白謙慎、布蘭岱斯（Brandies）大學亞洲藝術教授阮圓、國畫書法家馬清雄、高靜華、石雕家暨麻州藝術學院亞洲藝術教授謝茵等七名評委，雖然個個都是專家,， 評選打分時也有難以取捨之嘆。

由於全美各地各校的老師經常有變動，今年有很多新學校參加，但也有學校，畫院或畫會，因教師變動完全沒有送件，十分可惜。

譚嘉陵表示，該會今年將依往例公佈入圍者名單，以鼓勵學生們百尺竿頭更進一步，但希望各校老師，家長，勉勵學生們以參與為重，不要太在意是否得獎。

波士頓華僑文教中心週二至週日的每天早上九點半至下午五點開門，查詢可洽 617-965-8801。

這項比賽有 「譚嶽泉蕭運貞文教紀念基金」及社區大眾捐款贊助。查詢可冾譚嘉陵，電話 781-259- 8195，電郵 Foundation@ChinesePerformingArts.net。

以下為各組第一名，其餘得獎者名單，可上中華表演藝術基金會網站查閱。

國畫A組（九歲以下）， 金獎一人，加州長寧工作室的八歲江夢蘭。國畫B組（十至十三歲），金獎兩人，都來自新澤西州朋朋畫室的十三歲梁知恆，十一歲梁知進。國畫C組(十四歲至十七歲)，金獎兩人，加州宜真美術學院十五歲的譚凱慈，加州長寧工作室十五歲的朱漢瑞。國畫D組（十八到廿一歲），金獎一人，加州大學聖塔芭芭拉分校（UC Santa Barbara）十九歲的吳偉琪。

書法S組（九歲以下），金獎兩人，加州宜真美術學院八歲的唐國瑞，明尼蘇達州海明畫室九歲的韓安迪。書法T組（十至十三歲），金獎一人，加州百度書屋十三歲的許新婕。書法U組（十四至十七歲），金獎兩人，加州汲古書苑十六歲的陳韻涵，加州百度書屋十五歲的王嘉寧。書法V組（十八至廿二歲），金獎兩人，加州百度書屋十八歲的林宗儒，德州清風草堂十八歲的張凱樂。

圖片說明：

            中華表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵（右起）和馬清雄，阮圓，謝茵，朱蓉，陸惠風，高靜華，白謙慎等七名評審合影。（圖由中華表演藝術基金會提供）

            張貼在波士頓華僑文教中心的參賽畫作。（圖由中華表演藝術基金會提供）

陸惠風博士為此作詩一首

甲午春，復活節前一日。 中華表演藝術基金會辦青少年書畫比賽，展品以丙組書法最多最佳，短詩二首，識此盛事。 
惠風

八斗才華 年少艾

墨濃幻彩飛煙霞

溫文倜儻丰神雅

骨格清奇又一家

花果靈根能目植

魚龍鱗角掩光華

揮毫頓覺風標異

秀逸清新處處花

共和黨查理貝克選州長 提議給中小企業抵稅優惠

麻州州長候選人查理貝克（Charlie Baker）日前在”州長候選人論壇“中指教育是未來所繫；聯邦政府應該把規範，管理醫療保險的權利，交回給地方；州政府應訂定小企業抵稅優惠（small business tax credit），以創造就業機會，改善經濟。

            22日談及議會將調漲麻州最低工資時，查理貝克表示，到2016年中時把每小時最低工資從8.5元漲到10.5元的這提案，他可以接受。

            查理貝克是麻州州長候選人中，唯一的共和黨籍候選人。麻州州長亞美顧問委員會（Governor’s AAC）與25個支持機構合作舉辦的這“州長候選人論壇”，也特地為他，把論壇場地搬到了共和黨籍范文南(Nam Pham)擔任行政主任的越助中心（Viet -Aid）。

            查理貝克在這場除了華裔，越南裔之外，有多名韓裔，泰裔人士出席的論壇中，介紹自己，闡述他第二次參選麻州州長提出的好工作，好學校，好社區等三大理念。       

            查理貝克認為，麻州內的企業，百分之八，九十都屬於中小企業，要改善麻州經濟，創造就業機會，就要幫助小企業經營，成長。最佳的方法之一是給中小企業抵稅優惠（tax credit），而不是把納稅人的錢用來支撐那些“大到不能讓他們倒下來（too big to fall）的公司”。

            談到醫療保險時，查理貝克一方面指稱聯邦政府的醫療保險制度是仿效麻州早已實施的全民健保，一方面指現行的醫療保險費用過高，在於整個醫療體系營運做法有問題，聯邦政府應該讓各地政府自行找出最好的方法。

            談及學校時，查理貝克指教育是人們改善未來的最重要途徑。他認為每個社區之內都至少有一所很不錯的學校，如果鼓勵各學校交流，可逐漸發揮全面改善各級教育作用。他也贊成辦理特許學校，以容許更多學子獲得更好的教育。

            1956年十一月十三日，在麻州尼罕（Needham）出生的查理貝克，畢業於哈佛大學，獲有西北大學凱洛格（Kellogg）管理學院企業管理碩士學位，目前是

總催化夥伴（General Catalyst Partners）的駐公司企業家。

            查理貝克當天表示，他有豐富的政府，企業經驗，一旦當選麻州州長，最能發揮橋樑作用。

            過去這些年間，他曾在威廉威爾德（William Weld），保羅瑟祿奇(Paul Cellucci)兩位州長任內，擔任行政及財務卿（Secretary of Administration and Finance），推動過許多節省開支，增加效率的改革，1998年還曾獲得全國州長協會的傑出服務獎。在2010年他第一次參選麻州州長之前，他當過哈佛朝聖者醫療保險公司（Harvard Pilgrim Health Care）執行長十年。

            查理貝克在他的競選州長網站上指出，他在哈佛朝聖者醫療保險公司服務期間，不但扭轉了該公司被接管的命運，還讓該公司在會員滿意度，臨床效率（clinical effectiveness）上，一連六年獲得全國最高評價。

他也強調自己的接近民眾，住在他家附近的鄰居都知道他什麼時候會到附近的咖啡店小坐，有意見時，都會直接向他反映。

           

圖片說明：

            越助中心行政主任范文南（中）送紀念品給麻州州長亞美顧問委員會副主席李超榮（左），以及麻州州長候選人查理貝克。（菊子攝）

            查理貝克（立者）在多徹斯特的越助中心，向出席者闡述他參選麻州州長一職的理念。（菊子攝）

牛頓台灣日訂 5/3 舉行

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處、波士頓華僑文教服務中心和牛頓市海德社區中心合作，將於5月3日（週六）在位於牛頓市的波士頓僑教中心（90 Lincoln street, Newton Highlands, MA 02461）舉辦「牛頓台灣日」。

僑教中心表示，舉辦「牛頓台灣日」，旨在加強與當地主流社會的互動與認識。

「牛頓台灣日」訂5月3日中午12點，由五彩金龍帶領參加表演，活動的團體，在林肯街上遊行，揭開序幕。

表演節目預定從一點開始，除三太子舞蹈表演之外，還有山地舞、民族舞蹈、扯鈴、採茶舞、Nia 帶動跳等文化表演。

台灣移民社團及中文學校將在現場擺設許多小吃及遊戲攤位，如珍珠奶茶、蛋捲、草粿、肉丸、麻薯、生煎包、涼麵、茶葉蛋、打彈珠、花枝丸、捏麵人、粽子、綠豆椪、鳳梨酥、愛玉、擂茶、貢丸、12生肖書籤、迷你高爾夫球、麻將以及現場摸彩等活動。

新英格蘭台灣青年商會已邀請紅十字會派捐血車，在會場外停泊，希望僑胞屆時踴躍登記捐血。

僑教中心已準備了台灣醫療服務國際化文宣、台灣觀光及馬年燈籠等勞作摺紙，「從空中看台灣」DVD光碟片，將在當日分贈給與會人士。

昆士市 4/26 再辦水災保險咨詢會

Time is running out to make critical decision. Please check and tell your friends to check on the related flood zone status. Families affected by the federal government's new flood map will have to pay flood insurance when the map becomes effective on June 9, 2014. Policy purchased a month before the effective date may cost less or much less. Please help spread the word. Thank you. 

Betty 617-376-1298

Also:
A new voice message has been recorded on the "Cantonese Information Line" of the City of Quincy. (617-984-8914) re: 2014 FEMA Flood Zones.
請廣傳﹕請撥 617-984-8914 “昆士市廣東話電話錄音資訊服務”
收聽有關聯邦政府2014水災區域圖的資訊。
查詢物業是否納入新圖內﹐
1． 請上網﹕http://www.quincyma.gov 按 “GIS Property Viewer” 
2． 或電話 617-376-1937 或 617-376-1298
3． 或出席4月26日在北昆士社區中心舉行的 “水災保險諮詢會”
(詳請﹐請查閱下面海報。)

GROSSMAN ANNOUNCES LATEST UNCLAIMED PROPERTY EBAY AUCTION

GROSSMAN ANNOUNCES LATEST UNCLAIMED PROPERTY EBAY AUCTION

Properties to be Showcased Across the State Starting Monday, April 28 in Boston

            Treasurer Steven Grossman today announced that his office will be displaying select items from its Unclaimed Property Division that will soon go up for bid on eBay.com.  The items will first be displayed at the State House in Boston on Monday, April 28, and will subsequently be shown in Yarmouth, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester, all leading up to the online auction going live on Saturday, May 3.

            “Reuniting people with their rightfully-owned property is our first priority, but in cases where these individuals cannot be located, we want to ensure that we maximize the revenue that is generated from this auction,” said Grossman. “Selling these items through eBay offers a competitive bidding environment, reaches a high number of potential buyers, and maximizes revenue for taxpayers.”

            The traveling showcase, which represents only a portion of the lots up for bid, will include items such as gold, silver, jewelry, collectible currency, and high-end watches.  The vast majority of items come from safe deposit boxes with contents that have gone unclaimed for a period of at least nine years.  After a lengthy period of going unclaimed, the state is legally permitted to liquidate these items at auction. 

            The times and locations for the display of these select items are as follows:

·       Monday, April 28 from noon to 5:00 p.m. – Nurse’s Hall, Second Floor, Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA.

·       Tuesday, April 29 from noon to 6:00 p.m. – Cape Cod Room, Cape Cod Irish Village, 822 Route 28,Yarmouth, MA.

·       Wednesday, April 30 from noon to 5:00 p.m. – Massachusetts State Lottery offices, 200 Theodore H. Rice Road, New Bedford, MA.

·       Thursday, May 1 from noon to 5:00 p.m. – Springfield State Office Building, 436 Dwight Street, Springfield, MA.

·       Friday, May2 from noon to 5:00 p.m. – Massachusetts State Lottery offices, 151 West Boylston Drive,Worcester, MA.

This is the ninth time that the Commonwealth has used EBay to liquidate its unclaimed tangible property holdings.  Prior to that, the Treasury held a live auction for such items, a process that was far less profitable because of its limited reach to potential bidders.  Last year’s eBay auction raised over $544,000 for the state’s General Fund through the sale of 1,830 separate bid lots, more than three times the amount of money generated from comparable live auctions of the past.

On May 3, 100 lots will be posted on eBay for bid, followed by a gradual release of additional items over the following eight weeks.  In all, the Treasury expects to put approximately 1200 lots out to bid.  The items will be able to be viewed by using the eBay seller ID “mass.state.treasury.”

Grossman said that the Treasury needs to regularly liquidate older portions of its tangible property holdings due to storage constraints and logistical needs.  He noted that if individuals or their heirs later prove that a piece of sold property belonged to them, they will be fully compensated the sale price of the item. 

The Treasury also maintains a comprehensive list of approximately $2.4 billion in unclaimed monetary property, such as stock, insurance payments, and bank accounts.  Individuals can search to see if they own such property by visiting www.findmassmoney.com or by calling (888)344-MASS (6277).

Boston Receives $140,000 for Food System Resiliency Study

Boston Receives $140,000 for Food System Resiliency Study

To Understand Food Sustainability in the Event of a Natural Disturbance 

BOSTON—Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the City of Boston’s Office of Food Initiatives joined community partners Next Street and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) to announce the receipt of $140,000 in support of a food system resilience study. The study will focus on the resilience and preparedness of Greater Boston’s food system, continuing work completed by NextStreet and ICIC over the last six years, and aimed at understanding the points of production, processing, and distribution in Greater Boston. The funding is provided by the Henry P. Kendall Foundation and the Local Sustainability Matching Fund, a project of the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities.

“Ensuring food access for all Bostonians is a critical component of the work this administration is doing,” said Mayor Walsh. “Confidence in our food system is important in sustaining a healthy and vibrant city. This study will inform the Office of Food Initiatives, the Office of Environment, Energy, and Open Space, and the Office of Emergency Management as we consider Greater Boston’s food system holistically, and identify existing and potential gaps in access within the City.”

The study seeks to understand the many ways food reaches the plates of Bostonians. The study will also compare similar cities that have experienced natural disturbances, and suggest policy changes that will help prepare the City of Boston should similar situations occur.

“This project is about better understanding Boston’s local and regional food system. Where do Bostonians grow, manufacture, and access food? How might those access points be impacted by a natural disturbance and how do we make sure that the food system we’re developing is robust enough that it is able to withstand such disturbances?” said Director of Food Initiatives, Edith Murnane. “This work is going to enable us to think about the policy and programming that we need to put in place to create a more robust and resilient food system – one that will not only better ensure that Bostonians are able to put food on their table, but will help us to do so despite expected natural disruptions.”

The project is slated to begin by the middle of May. Over the course of a year, NextStreet and the ICIC will visit cities of similar size with analogous food distribution planning, and interview food system stakeholders to gain a better understanding of how natural disturbances have impacted their food production, processing, and distribution.

“I am thrilled that the City of Boston is investigating this important issue. As New England’s largest city, the food system developing in and around the city has rippling implications, region-wide, on food and farm production,” said Andrew Kendall, Executive Director of the Henry P. Kendall Foundation.

GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES NEW SUPPORT FOR JOB TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT READINESS SKILLS FOR HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

BOSTON – Wednesday, April 23, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced $1 million in funding to connect homeless and low-income families with services to help some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens overcome barriers to work and succeed in life. These Secure Jobs Initiative grants will help connect them with suitable employers in jobs with long-term career pathways. The Governor made the announcement at the Jewish Vocational Services organization in Boston, which assists individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers.

“We must continually invest in our workforce to provide our workers with the skills and resources they need to become great job candidates,” said Governor Patrick. “Helping our most vulnerable citizens transition into stable jobs is vital to supporting our economy and creating a stronger Commonwealth for the next generation.”

Through five regional partnerships, these grants will help homeless and low-income families receive job training and placement skills, as well as access to child care services so that they can successfully attain and thrive in their careers. These partnerships will increase coordination and local innovation to improve the Commonwealth’s ability to serve the needs of low-income and homeless families.

“Often times all it takes is a good paying job to lift struggling families out of homelessness,” said Aaron Gornstein, Undersecretary for the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). “The grants funded today are one part of the Administration’s comprehensive strategy to prevent homelessness and reduce our reliance on the state’s emergency shelter system.”

The Secure Jobs Initiative represents a strong collaboration between DHCD, the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), regional housing networks, nonprofit organizations and philanthropic organizations, many of whom participate on the Secure Jobs Advisory Board.

“Helping to provide clients with the skills and training necessary to get a good paying job has been a priority for Governor Patrick and is an important part of the Department’s mission to help clients transition toward economic stability and improve them and their families lives,” said DTA Commissioner Stacey Monahan. “These grants will go a long way toward reaching that goal and DTA looks forward to continuing to work with its sister agencies to help our state’s most vulnerable residents.”

"Access to high-quality early education and care is a critical resource for many families who are working hard to achieve self-sufficiency," said EEC Commissioner Tom Weber. "High-quality early education programs meet the important developmental needs of children while allowing adults to obtain and maintain family-sustaining employment. Working in partnership to provide comprehensive services to these families will help deliver positive outcomes for them and the Commonwealth."

The Secure Jobs Initiative grants are funded through the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund established by Governor Patrick in 2013. Today’s announcement builds upon a 2013 pilot program funded by the Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, during which 348 individuals were placed in jobs. Two additional agencies that were not part of the pilot program but used the program model in their organization were also able to secure an additional 156 jobs for individuals.   

Following the success of the pilot program, the Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation announced that it is matching the Commonwealth’s investment this year by contributing an additional $1 million.

“The Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation is excited to see Secure Jobs continue,” said Sue Beaton, Interim Director of the Fireman Foundation. “In the first year our state partners working alongside the foundation and our regional partnerships have together provided job opportunities for upwards of 600 individuals. As we seek to stabilize families in housing, it is key to launch them to income generating opportunities. Securing a job is often times the best life line possible.”  

“I applaud the Patrick Administration for committing $1 million in funding towards the Secure Jobs Initiative, providing critical job training and readiness assistance to help homeless and low-income families find a path to escape poverty," said Senator Jamie Eldridge. "If we're serious about reducing the homeless population in Massachusetts, we need to recognize that support services are critical, and I'm grateful to Governor Patrick for his leadership on this investment."

Today’s awards follow Governor Patrick’s recent announcement of more than $25 million in funding to create over 335 new units of supportive housing for veterans, homeless and very low-income households across the Commonwealth. With these new units, the Patrick Administration has reached its goal of creating 1,000 units of permanent, supportive housing in the Commonwealth over a year early.  

Earlier this month, Governor Patrick filed a An Act to Promote Growth and Opportunity, a comprehensive economic development package that will increase opportunity across the Commonwealth by providing new tools and training so our workforce is prepared to meet the needs of employers, invests in our Gateway Cities to promote development across the entire state and provides incentives to create jobs and stimulate the economy.

Today’s award recipients are:

·         Community Teamwork, Inc., Merrimack Valley, $250,000

·         Father Bills & MainSpring, South Shore, $115,649

·         HAP Housing, Western Massachusetts, $250,000

·         Jewish Vocational Services, Metro Boston, $250,000

·         SER-Jobs for Progress, South Coast & Islands, $134,351