TREASURER GOLDBERG AND THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS OF THE “MEETING THE COMMONWEALTH’S WORKFORCE NEEDS” REPORT

TREASURER GOLDBERG AND THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS OF THE “MEETING THE COMMONWEALTH’S WORKFORCE NEEDS” REPORT

New Report Offers Valuable Insight Into The Relationship Between Today’s Education And Opportunities In The 21^st Century Workplace

BOSTON –Treasurer and Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Chair Deb Goldberg and the MSBA have released the results of the “Meeting the Commonwealth’s Workforce Needs” report. The report, conducted in partnership with Northeastern University’s Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban Regional Policy, utilizes comprehensive data and innovative analysis to further explore the relationship between what Massachusetts students learn in school today and the educational requirements the job market is expected to demand tomorrow.

“At the Massachusetts School Building Authority, we are investing in 21^st century classrooms where teachers are able to provide the education necessary for the jobs here in Massachusetts,” said Treasurer Deb Goldberg. “As we work with communities across the state we believe we can better match our school buildings to provide the environment needed for the skill set necessary to grow our economic base.”

“This extraordinarily detailed research uncovered some surprising and critically important trends in the Commonwealth’s workforce including the fact that up to two-thirds of the 1.1 million job openings between 2012 and 2022 will be for replacement workers of those retiring or changing occupations,” said Barry Bluestone, Director of the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University.  "This suggests the need for a huge training effort to make sure that Massachusetts’ employers can find qualified workers to meet their workforce needs.”

The “Meeting the Commonwealth’s Workforce Needs” is an innovative approach for looking at how the MSBA will address capital projects going forward. The report provides insight into the anticipated demands of the job market and into how Massachusetts schools can address these demands.

“My colleagues at the MSBA and I are delighted to have partnered with the Dukakis Center at Northeastern to present this important study. The insights gained from this report will help us evaluate what jobs will be needed in the future and the ability of both traditional schools and vocational facilities to meet the real world demands of the 21^st century workplace,” said MSBA Chief Executive Officer Maureen Valente, who was extensively involved in the project.

The report stresses the importance of strong post-secondary education options for Massachusetts students, from vocational-technical schools, to community colleges, and four-year colleges and universities, while offering insight into how these different opportunities relate to the labor market.

The report covers at length the expanding role of vocational schools in Massachusetts, while also emphasizing the importance of financial education within school curricula, the projected job growth in Massachusetts over the next decade, and the top occupation groups in terms of projected job openings.

“One of the successes of vocational technical education is the ability to meet the labor market demands of business and industry. This report, commissioned by the MSBA in collaboration with the Dukakis Center at Northeastern University, identifies the emerging careers that will assist graduates of vocational technical schools with opportunities in our innovation economy and play a crucial role to the economic stability of the Commonwealth,” said David Ferreira, who serves as executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators.

"As we continue to redefine the Chapter 74 comprehensive model of education in our District, we are excited to reap the benefits of offering a 21st-century program coupled with a rigorous academic curriculum,” Said Dr. Gary Maestas, Superintendent of Schools, Plymouth Public Schools. “In navigating the school designs at our High Schools in partnership with the MSBA, it is our belief that we have clearly mapped a comprehensive model delineating 21st-century learning expectations for our students."

Some key findings from the report include:

• Between 2012 and 2022 there will be nearly 1.2 million job openings  in the Commonwealth
• More than 3 out of 5 of the nearly 1.2 million job openings will require less than a B.A. degree, and 1 out of 3 will require no more than a high school degree
• Vocational school graduates will be able to fill approximately 11.7 percent of all job openings by 2022
• While various regions of the state have vocational technical schools that seem to be well positioned to meet their region’s projected occupational openings, there are other areas of the state including the City of Boston, the Metro North Region, Metro Southwest, and the Cape and Islands where more attention needs to be paid to increasing the capacity of vocational schools to meet projected job needs

CITY OF BOSTON ANNOUNCES NEW ASSESSMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO TAXPAYERS

CITY OF BOSTON ANNOUNCES NEW ASSESSMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO TAXPAYERS

BOSTON - Monday, November 9, 2015 - The City of Boston Assessing Department today announced the public disclosure period to allow taxpayers the opportunity to review their preliminary residential and commercial properties assessments for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. The Assessing Department is in the final stages of completing a revaluation of all residential and commercial properties, as required by state law every three years. Preliminary assessment notices will be mailed the week of November 16. The following public disclosure period allows taxpayers the opportunity to review their preliminary assessment with an assessor prior to the state Department of Revenue's final certification: Monday November 16 - Friday November 20 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM, Boston City Hall, Room 301 Monday November 23 - Tuesday November 24 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Boston City Hall, Room 301 On these dates, property owners will have the opportunity to review their FY 2016 preliminary assessments by: Visiting the Assessing Department at Boston City Hall, Room 301; Calling the Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center between 9AM and 5PM at (617) 635-4287; or Visiting the Assessing Department on the web atwww.cityofboston.gov/assessing While preliminary assessments are included in the disclosure notices that will be mailed to taxpayers the week of November 16, the assessments are also available online at www.cityofboston.gov/assessing . By following the revaluation links, taxpayers may submit an online contact form with questions about their FY 2016 assessment directly to the Assessing Department. After certification of the new values by the state Department of Revenue, the new assessed values will be indicated on the FY 2016 Third Quarter real estate tax bill to be issued by the Collector-Treasurer at the end of December. The FY 2016 assessments will be based on the value of the property as of January 1, 2015, and will reflect the market conditions in each property's immediate area on or before that date. Market activity occurring after January 1, 2015, will be reflected in the FY 2017 assessment. In FY 2016, assessments reflect a strong market for real estate, with most neighborhoods exhibiting signs of appreciation over the prior year. As a result, many homeowners will see an increase in their assessment. However, with Proposition 2½ limiting the annual growth of the City's tax levy, assessments will cause a decline in the property tax rate that will mitigate, in part, tax bill increases. TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS The City of Boston offers a number of tax relief programs to qualified homeowners. The residential exemption, in particular, can provide substantial savings to taxpayers that owned and occupied their homes as of January 1, 2015. A residential exemption is an amount of assessed value that is exempted from taxation by recommendation of the Mayor and vote of the City Council. Last year, qualified taxpayers saved $1,880 on their tax bills. Taxpayers who receive the residential exemption for FY 2016 will see the exemption value indicated on the Third Quarter tax bill. The deadline to file for the residential exemption for FY 2016 is April 1, 2016. In addition, the City offers personal exemptions to those taxpayers who are elderly (over age 65), surviving spouses (widow/widower), minor children of deceased parents, blind, disabled veterans with a service-connected disability, and certain members of the National Guard. Each exemption has eligibility requirements, such as age and certain income restrictions. Taxpayers who receive a personal exemption for FY 2016 will see the exemption amount indicated on the Third Quarter tax bill. Taxpayers who believe they may qualify for a personal exemption have until April 1, 2016 to apply. The lone exception is the National Guard exemption, which has a filing deadline of February 1, 2016. The City also offers a tax deferral for those elderly homeowners whose current expenses make the continued ownership of their home difficult. To qualify for FY 2016, taxpayers must be age 65 or older and have an income of less than $57,000 per year. The amount of the deferred taxes, plus interest accruing at a rate of 4% per year, must be repaid when the property is sold or upon the passing of the owner. More detailed information on tax assistance programs can be obtained by calling the Taxpayer Referral and Assistance Center at (617) 635-4287.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Groundbreaking Medical School Program to Curb Opioid Crisis

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Groundbreaking Medical School Program to Curb Opioid Crisis

Core competencies to ensure medical students properly trained on prevention and management of prescription drug misuse

BOSTON – Today the Baker-Polito Administration, in partnership with the deans of the Commonwealth’s four medical schools and the Massachusetts Medical Society released a pioneering set of medical education core competencies for the prevention and management of prescription drug misuse. The set of cross-institutional core competencies will ensure that 3,000 enrolled medical students across the Commonwealth receive enhanced training in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies regarding prescription drug misuse.

“These educational standards represent an innovative and forward-thinking contribution to the state’s multi-faceted strategy to curb the opioid epidemic,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Massachusetts is again setting a new standard by providing our medical students with a strong foundation in treating those with substance use disorders.”

The Medical Education Working Group on Prescription Drug Misuse was led by State Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH and included key representatives from all four Massachusetts medical schools – Boston University School of Medicine; Harvard Medical School; Tufts School of Medicine; and the University of Massachusetts Medical School in addition to the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Department of Public Health. Each school will tailor the core competencies to complement their existing curriculum in order to ensure they are being delivered to all students.

“We must ensure that future generations of physicians are equipped with the requisite skills to successfully prevent, identify, and treat substance use disorders,”said Marylou Sudders, Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. “With this enhanced educational foundation, our medical students will be better prepared to provide excellent patient care as our next generation of physicians.”

“We know that substance use disorder is a chronic, progressive, relapsing disease,”said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH. “These concepts embrace the holistic approach to treatment which attends to the multiple needs of the individual, not just substance use.”

Core Competencies for the Prevention and Management of Prescription Drug Misuse

In the appropriate setting, using recommended and evidence-based methodologies, the graduating medical student should demonstrate the independent ability and/or knowledge to:

Primary Prevention Domain – Preventing Prescription Drug Misuse: Screening, Evaluation, and Prevention

1. Evaluate a patient’s pain using age, gender, and culturally appropriate evidence-based methodologies.

2. Evaluate a patient’s risk for substance use disorders by utilizing age, gender, and culturally appropriate evidence-based communication skills and assessment methodologies, supplemented with relevant available patient information, including but not limited to health records, family history, prescription dispensing records (e.g. the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program or “PMP”), drug urine screenings, and screenings for commonly co-occurring psychiatric disorders (especially depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD).

3. Identify and describe potential pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options including opioid and non-opioid pharmacological treatments for acute and chronic pain management, along with patient communication and education regarding the risks and benefits associated with each of these available treatment options.

Secondary Prevention Domain – Treating Patients At-Risk for Substance Use Disorders: Engage Patients in Safe, Informed, and Patient-Centered Treatment Planning

4. Describe substance use disorder treatment options, including medication-assisted treatment, as well as demonstrate the ability to appropriately refer patients to addiction medicine specialists and treatment programs for both relapse prevention and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.

5. Prepare evidence-based and patient-centered pain management and substance use disorder treatment plans for patients with acute and chronic pain with special attention to safe prescribing and recognizing patients displaying signs of aberrant prescription use behaviors.

6. Demonstrate the foundational skills in patient-centered counselling and behavior change in the context of a patient encounter, consistent with evidence-based techniques.

Tertiary Prevention Domain – Managing Substance Use Disorders as a Chronic Disease: Eliminate Stigma and Build Awareness of Social Determinants

7. Recognize the risk factors for, and signs of, opioid overdose and demonstrate the correct use of naloxone rescue.

8. Recognize substance use disorders as a chronic disease by effectively applying a chronic disease model in the ongoing assessment and management of the patient.

9. Recognize their own and societal stigmatization and biases against individuals with substance use disorders and associated evidence-based medication-assisted treatment.

10. Identify and incorporate relevant data regarding social determinants of health into treatment planning for substance use disorders.

華埠青年會百年傳承宴表揚陳毓禮，陳魯誠等3人

華埠王安青年中心11月7日晚在帝苑大酒樓舉辦第7屆傳承宴，慶祝大波士頓青年會成立101週年，表揚陳毓禮，陳魯誠，Deeb N. Salem醫師等3人。

            帝苑大酒樓東主黃官羨，羅雅儀倆夫婦捐款5000元，以示支持。

            慶祝會簡單隆重，由昆士中學共同校長張可仁主持，華林派功夫學校舞龍開場。大波士頓青年會執行長莫頓（James O’S. Morton），華埠王安青年會行政主任巴薇兒（Patricia M. Barnwell）先後致詞，感謝社區一百年來的支持，重申該會宗旨在鼓勵青年發展，提倡健康生活，培養社會責任感，他們做的每一件事，都為促進社區更美好。

            會中頒獎表揚了陳毓禮，陳魯誠，Deeb N. Salem等3名對社區有貢獻者。

            陳毓禮曾是波士頓市政府的三朝元老，2 5年間，歷經凱文懷特，雷夫連，萬寧諾等三名市長。1990年代末期，他開始更直接的參與華埠社區事務，包括紐英崙中華總會，紐英崙至孝篤親公所，以及中華廣叫學校。

他上台致詞時，拋出自己67年前已是華埠青年會會員這震懾人的資歷，也直言見證了華埠青年會過去這些年來的變遷。早年他曾住在青年會二樓，後來青年會搬到泰勒街上，人稱“氣球”，約兩三個籃球場大小的場地，十多年前，再搬到華盛頓街，昆士小學對面現址，終於成為擁有有現代化設備的會所。

陳魯誠小時有“大眼”暱名，1950年代初期隨家人從中國台山移民來美，參加的教堂活動，讓他與青年會結下不解之緣。從波士頓拉丁學校，東北大學畢業後，還取得波士頓大學的社工碩士學位，他在塔醫中心，中華耆英會，昆士學校社區委員會，華人醫務中心等機構歷任管理職務，1984年獲聘為人稱“氣球(Bubble)“的南灣青年會行政主任。

陳魯誠現為華埠王安青年會（The Wang YMCA of Chinatown）發展主任，也是年﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽，青年會還成了保護她不ˊc華埠社區議會（CNC）議員，華埠信託會成員，華埠社區聯盟創辦人之一。

            Deeb N. Salem醫師是心臟專家，早從1987年就被塔芙茨大學醫學院聘為教授，並在塔芙茨醫療中心行醫，直至1995年。1999年他升任塔大醫學院主席，歷任紐英崙心臟協會會長，獲獎無數，如今是塔芙茨醫療中心的醫師長（Physician-in-Chief）。

            華埠王安青年會是大波士頓青年會13個分會之一，規模中等，會員約3000人，在各分會中會員種類最多元化，成人，年輕成人，青少年，老年，家庭等類別的會員都有。

            華埠王安青年會現有顧問委員會17人，其中10人為華裔，主席，副主席為前後任昆士中學校長，黃伯勳，張可仁。

圖片說明：

            華埠王安青年會表揚，陳魯誠（左起），陳毓禮，Deeb N. Salem等3人。（菊子攝）

            帝苑大酒樓東主黃官羨，羅雅儀夫婦（中）捐款五千元。華埠王安青年會行政主任巴薇兒（Patricia Barnwell，右一）和顧問委員會副主席張可仁（左一）代表接受。（菊子攝）

            大同村居民也參加華埠青年會慶祝晚宴。（菊子攝）

            道富集團亞裔員工到會場當義工。（菊子攝）

            華埠王安青年會行政主任巴薇兒（Patricia Barnwell，中）邀得大波士頓青年會主席莫頓（James O’S. Morton）（右）出席，WCVB電視台的Frank Holland當司儀。（菊子攝）

哈佛CSSA欣賞俄羅斯音樂唱莫斯科郊外的晚上

哈佛大學中國學生學者聯合會學術組主持人岳林表演散文詩
朗誦“海燕之歌”。（菊子攝）

哈佛大學中國學生學者聯合會（HCSSA）7日晚在該校杜爹利屋（Dudley House）舉辦“俄羅斯音樂欣賞會”，近百人齊唱“莫斯科郊外的晚上”，陶醉非常。

 哈佛大學杜爹利屋裡，前前後後，逾百人出席。（菊子攝）

哈佛大學中國學生學者聯合會學術組主持人岳林指出，為紀念反法西斯戰爭勝利70週年時，中國三軍儀仗隊在莫斯科閱兵典禮上高唱“喀秋莎”，是俄羅斯音樂對中國有重要影響的現代例證。該會因此特地策劃一場“俄羅斯音樂欣賞會”，在欣賞音樂之餘，也與眾同溫從魯迅，巴金，到聶耳，冼星海，從“五四文化”，“知青文化”，到張藝謀電影《山楂樹之戀》裏的俄羅斯蹤跡。

哈佛大學中國學生學者聯合會副主席徐雲飛也出席欣賞。（菊子攝）

音樂會由黃河合唱團合唱“青年團員之歌”，“喀秋莎”開場，再由段建華以手風琴獨奏哈恰圖良的”馬刀舞曲“，柴可夫斯基的”西班牙舞曲“，廖東惠女中音獨唱”紅莓花兒開“，張安琪女高音獨唱卡林卡，黃河常唱團女生二重唱”山楂樹“，Anastasslys Petrova鋼琴獨奏電影音樂選段，郭曉茜，曾堯詩朗誦普希金的“致凱恩”，“致恰達耶夫“，J. DeFilippis小提琴獨奏柴可夫斯基的小提琴協奏曲（第二樂章），曾任波士頓大學中國學生學者聯合會主席的周曉蕾鋼琴獨奏柯薩科夫的“野蜂飛舞”，岳林散文詩朗誦高爾基的“海燕之歌”等。

哈佛大學中國學生學者聯合會學術組主持人岳林（右一）也是
黃河合唱團指揮，率領團員謝幕。（圖由陳奮提供）

音樂會的最高潮是會末的全體觀眾合唱“莫斯科郊外的晚上”。

在主辦單位印製了該曲譜調及歌詞之下，全場真是人人唱起“深夜花園李，四處靜悄悄，……，但願從今後，你我永不忘，莫斯哥郊外的晚上“，還都在主持人岳林的帶引下，學唱更餘韻繚繞的改編版，讓岳林大喜過望，盛讚出席者音樂水平高。

出席者中的陳奮事後表示，這次的音樂會是岳林博士又一次的成功舉辦音樂會，讓他又得到一次非常美好的享受和精神洗滌，尤其是全體合唱“莫斯科郊外的晚上“時，讓他想起當年在上海交大讀書時，躺在徐匯校區大草坪上，沐浴著夕陽斜照，聽著學校廣播的俄文原音版”莫斯科郊外的晚上“，心中的感動美極了。

根據百度百科，“莫斯科郊外的晚上“一曲，原是為1956年莫斯科電影製片廠拍攝紀錄片“在運動大會的日子裏”所做，1957年在第6屆世界青年聯歡節上奪得金獎，成為蘇聯經典歌曲，1957年9月由歌曲譯配家薛范做中文翻譯後，帶進中國，成了中國家喻戶曉的歌曲。