Baker-Polito Administration Honors Commonwealth’s Top Saltwater Anglers

Baker-Polito Administration Honors Commonwealth’s Top Saltwater Anglers

BOSTON – February 21, 2017 – State fisheries officials presented 34 trophies to winners of the 2016 Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby at a ceremony Saturday at the New England Boat Show at the Boston Convention and Exposition Center. Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Commissioner George Peterson, Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) Director David Pierce and DMF Assistant Director for Recreational Fisheries Mike Armstrong presented the awards.

“Recreational saltwater anglers support Massachusetts’ valuable tourism economy and, through saltwater fishing permits, the management and conservation of our marine resources,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is proud to honor these anglers, and we encourage residents of all ages to get out on the open water and participate in this year’s Saltwater Fishing Derby.”

“This year’s competition showcased the best of the Commonwealth’s fishing community, and I commend all the skilled anglers who received awards,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “As the weather gets warmer, we encourage all Massachusetts residents and visitors to take advantage of the many activities our coastal towns offer.”

“With over 1,200 miles of beautiful seashore, Massachusetts offers exceptional opportunities for saltwater fishing and other outdoor recreation on its coast,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “As a lifelong fisherman myself, I’m pleased to recognize these exceptional anglers for their fishing skills and outstanding catches.”

“The Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby is a great way to encourage people to enjoy the tremendous fishing that Massachusetts marine environment provides,” said DFG Commissioner George Peterson. “Congratulations to all the skilled anglers for their dedication to fishing and their accomplishment in making these remarkable catches.”

DMF’s Saltwater Fishing Derby awards pins to all qualifying entries in 21 species categories and presents trophies to anglers who landed the heaviest fish in each species category. Winners are chosen in three divisions: men, women and juniors (age 15 and younger). There were a total of 78 entries from anglers living in eight states in 2016. A new state record wahoo was also landed last year at 182 lbs., 12 oz. See chart below for the full list of winners:

Weigh-In Derby
Name	Town of Residence		Division		Species		Heaviest Fish (lb.  oz.)
Frank Mazzulli	Quincy		Men's		Black Sea Bass		5 lbs. 12 oz.
Crystle Calvin	Dartmouth		Women's		Black Sea Bass		4 lbs. 12 oz.
Jack Gulachenski	Southboro		Junior's		Black Sea Bass		6 lbs. 5 oz.
Tavin Beagle	Los Altos, CA		Men's		Bluefish		18 lbs. 10 oz.
Brenna McCoubrey	Marstons Mills		Women’s		Bluefish		15 lbs. 12 oz.
John Clark	Marion		Junior’s		Bluefish		12 lbs. 4 oz.
Brian Nunes-Vais	Morris Plains, NJ		Men's		Bonito		9 lbs. 12 oz.
Tammy King	Nantucket		Women's		Bonito		10 lbs. 2 oz.
Alex Avila	Sandwich		Men’s		Dolphin		24 lbs. 5 oz.
Joanne Cameron	Mattapoisett		Women’s		Dolphin		17 lbs.
Frances Clay	Osterville		Women's		False Albacore		10 lbs. 6 oz.
Dylan Kadison	Tisbury		Junior’s		False Albacore		11 lbs. 13 oz.
Emilson Kruger Leite	Gatiterburg, MD		Men's		Fluke		15 lbs. 6 oz.
Keely Ahlstrom	Orleans		Women’s		Fluke		13 lbs. 13 oz.
William Seaberg	Sudbury		Junior’s		Fluke		11 lbs. 15 oz.
Jeff Lema	Nantucket		Men’s		Halibut		89 lbs.
Kay Starzynski	Wheatfield, IN		Women’s		Halibut		102 lbs.
Bill Potter	Vineyard Haven		Men’s		King Mackerel		6 lbs. 14 oz.
Matt Kelly	Boxford		Men's		Scup		2 lbs. 8 oz.
Beverly Bergeron	West Tisbury		Women's		Scup		2 lbs. 13 oz.
Joseph Pearle	Wareham		Junior's		Scup		2 lbs. 9 oz.
Michael Jones	Carver		Men's		Striped Bass		53 lbs. 14 oz.
Amy Burrell	Mashpee		Women’s		Striped Bass		51 lbs. 10 oz.
Michael Bridges	Barnstable		Junior’s		Striped Bass		49 lbs. 6 oz.
John Pettersen	Old Lyme, CT		Men’s		Tautog		9 lbs. 14 oz.
Ashley Brown	Wareham		Women’s		Tautog		10 lbs. 13 oz.
Sam Jaxtimer	Osterville		Men’s		Thresher Shark		405 lbs. 5 oz.
Derek Wittkamper	Rowley		Men’s		Wahoo		182 lbs. 12 oz.
Rob Thompson	Marshfield		Men’s		Winter Flounder		4 lbs. 13 oz.
Steve Dowler	Vineyard Haven		Men’s		Yellowfin Tuna		91 lbs. 13 oz.
Jack Willis	Barnstable		Men’s		Yellowfin Tuna		92 lbs.
Catch and Release Derby
Name		Town of Residence		Species		Length (inches)
Ray Jarvis		Berkley		False Albacore		28 inches
Frank Mazzulli		Quincy		Striped Bass		47 inches
Mark Forrester		Quincy		Winter Flounder		20 inches

The annual Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby runs from January 1 through November 30 and is free to enter. Each Derby has its own set of rules and target species. To qualify for the weigh-in category of the Saltwater Fishing Derby, entries must be caught by hook and line and weighed in at DMF-certified weigh stations. Anglers participating in the catch and release category of the derby are required to submit a picture of their fish on a measuring device. Click here to learn more about the Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby.

DFG officials ask anglers to practice responsible fishing. DMF’s Responsible Angler Practices Brochure instructs anglers in how to properly handle and release fish, how to use tackle that minimizes unintended harm to fish, and reminds anglers to minimize fight time, properly dispose of trash and unwanted tackle, to use circle hooks, wide gap hooks, and barbless hooks, and to take steps to protect habitat while fishing.

DFG is responsible for promoting the conservation and enjoyment of the Commonwealth's natural resources. DFG carries out this mission through land protection and wildlife habitat management, management of inland and marine fish and wildlife species, and ecological restoration of fresh water, salt water, and terrestrial habitats. DFG promotes enjoyment of the Massachusetts environment through outdoor skills workshops, fishing festivals and other educational programs, and by enhancing access to the Commonwealth's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

State Leaders Release Report on Criminal Justice Reform Measures

State Leaders Release Report on Criminal Justice Reform Measures

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants, along with The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center released a report today which, along with related legislation, outlines ways in which Massachusetts can enhance public safety, avoid nearly $10 million in projected corrections costs by 2023 and accelerate further reduction of its incarcerated population.

Compared to other states Ma​ssachusetts has a relatively low overall incarceration rate.  However, there remains room for improvement. Two-thirds of those released from Houses of Correction and more than half of those released from the Department of Correction recidivate within three years. With corrections spending over a billion dollars per year the Governor, the Speaker, the Senate President, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court requested that the Council of State Governments Justice Center conduct a data driven analysis to assist in the development of recommendations to reduce recidivism, improve public safety and generate savings.

A bipartisan, inter-branch steering committee and working group were established to support this work. Between January 2016 and January 2017, the 25-member working group met six times, and its five-member steering committee met seven times to review analyses conducted by the CSG Justice Center and discuss policy options. In assisting the working group and steering committee, CSG Justice Center staff analyzed more than 13 million state records, conducted more than 300 in-person meetings, and helped craft research-backed policy options to address the state’s criminal justice system challenges.

To that end, policy options outlined in the CSG Justice Center’s report reflect a three-pronged strategy including legislative, administrative and budgetary actions that each branch of government will take to help reduce recidivism within the Commonwealth.  These actions will incentivize participation and expand access to pre- and post-release programming, strengthen post-release supervision, streamline the parole release process and improve and standardize data collection and performance monitoring across the criminal justice system. Actions include a commitment to increased funding for substance use and work training programming, enhancing post-release supervision, and expanding access to earned good time credits for completing recidivism-reduction programs during incarceration.

“Massachusetts should be proud that our prison population has declined by 1,300 inmates over the last two years, leaving us with one of the lowest incarceration rates in the country,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “However, we must focus on addressing recidivism by providing opportunities for certain prisoners who are willing to help themselves and participate in programs like workforce skills training opportunities that put them on the path to being productive members of society once their sentence is served.”

“The steering committee, co-chairs, and working group used their deep experience and unique perspectives to work with the CSG Justice Center to produce this informative report,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to continuing our exchange of ideas with all stakeholders and implementing important reforms on criminal justice.”

“Thank you to the CSG Justice Center and everyone who put so much time and effort into this report,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst).   “It will help inform our work on Criminal Justice Reform this session. We will incorporate its findings into what I hope will be real substantive changes to the entire range of issues facing our criminal justice system that will reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and generate savings.”

“I thank the CSG Justice Center and the Working Group for their detailed analysis and thoughtful recommendations,” said Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop.) “By taking an encompassing approach that includes legislative, administrative and funding components, I believe that we can make lasting change. I am particularly invested in ensuring that support programming – for example job training, substance addiction programs, and help securing housing - is of the highest quality.”

"I am grateful for the hard work and perseverance of the CSG and the Working Group, as well as the leadership and teamwork of my steering committee colleagues--Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Polito, President Rosenberg and Speaker DeLeo," said Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants. "The resulting report and legislative and policy proposals highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to reducing recidivism that combines an individualized focus on a defendant's risk, needs, and responsivity to programs; increased access to and incentives for education, job training, and treatment programs for defendants both in prison and during post-release supervision; and a recognition of the importance of facilitating a defendant’s reintegration into society. By examining these issues, the CSG project has enabled us to take a step forward in reforming our criminal justice system and created a springboard for further reforms."

The justice reinvestment process began in August 2015 when leaders from all three branches of government officially requested intensive technical assistance from the CSG Justice Center with the support from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. Twenty-six states have successfully used the justice reinvestment approach to date, including Idaho, North Carolina and West Virginia.

AARP is Grand Sponsor of San Francisco Bay Area’s CAAMFest

AARP is Grand Sponsor of

San Francisco Bay Area’s CAAMFest

AARP Members Receive Special Discount Ticket Prices 

At CAAMFest 2017, AARP presents Caregiving: The Circle of Love follows three family caregivers including NBC and MSNBC News Anchor and AARP Caregiving Champion Richard Lui. 

Download photo here.

SAN FRANCISCO, February 21, 2017 – AARP is proud to be a Grand Sponsor of upcoming 35th Annual CAAMFest from Thursday, March 9 to Sunday, March 19 in San Francisco and Oakland. The film festival, presented by the Center for Asian America Media (CAAM), is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian movies. AARP members will receive a special discount on tickets to all CAAMFest programs using promotion code AARP17 online or showing their membership card at the box office. Learn more, watch trailers, and buy tickets at CAAMFest.com.  

On Sunday, March 12 at 3:00pm at the Great Star Theater in San Francisco’s Chinatown, AARP will present Caregiving: The Circle of Love, a short film that tells the stories of three caregivers, including NBC and MSNBC News Anchor Richard Lui. Produced and directed by Toan Lam, the 14-minute documentary also follows former educator Elizabeth Chun and AARP Historian Emerita Lily Liu as they care for their families. The film will precede the premiere of The People’s Hospital, a documentary by Jim Choi and Chihiro Wimbush that tells the endearing story of the Chinese Hospital, the last independent hospital in San Francisco.

“We’re honored to be part of CAAMFest which will screen our film, Caregiving: The Circle of Love,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. “Families tend to avoid or tiptoe around uncomfortable issues like caregiving needs and long-term health needs. We produced this film to help start the difficult but vital conversation about caregiving now before an emergency happens.  With CAAMFest’s multigenerational audience, and as each one of us will either be or will need a caregiver, we hope people will be empowered to take a step toward caring for their loved ones.”

“We are thrilled to have AARP as a partner for the past three years and for their ongoing commitment to supporting stories about Asian American history and diversity,” said CAAM Executive Director Stephen Gong. “Together, we hope to continue to showcase films that inform and engage audiences on important topics like caregiving.”

CAAMFest is an 11-day celebration of film, music, food and digital media from the world’s most innovative Asian American artists. For 35 years, the festival has been an important launching point for Asian American independent filmmakers as well as a vital source for new Asian cinema.

Middleborough WOMAN Pleads Guilty, SENTENCED FOR Defrauding State’s Medicaid Program

Middleborough WOMAN Pleads Guilty, SENTENCED FOR Defrauding State’s Medicaid Program Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Medicaid Fraud and Larceny

PLYMOUTH – A Middleborough woman has pleaded guilty and been sentenced in connection with making duplicative claims for personal care services, causing an overpayment of more than $140,000 from the state’s Medicaid Program (MassHealth), Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Mary Yost, age 54, pleaded guilty on Friday in Plymouth Superior Court to charges of Medicaid Fraud and Larceny over $250 by False Pretenses. After the plea was entered, Superior Court Judge Angel Kelley Brown sentenced Yost to five years of probation. Yost was also ordered to pay restitution and is prohibited from receiving or causing payment of MassHealth funds.

Yost was indicted in February 2016 after an investigation by the AG’s Office revealed that between May 2009 and April 2014, she double-billed MassHealth for more than $140,000 by billing for Personal Care Attendant (PCA) and Adult Foster Care (AFC), more than $80,000 of which was paid directly to her.

The AG’s Office began an investigation upon a referral from MassHealth after they received information that Yost was both a PCA surrogate and AFC caretaker for a member and purposely participated in both the PCA program and the AFC program, in violation of MassHealth regulations.

Yost also submitted timesheets reflecting that another individual provided PCA services to the member between June 2011 and April 2014. The investigation revealed that the individual reflected on the timesheets was working elsewhere or in college for some of these time periods so could not have provided the services.

The MassHealth PCA Program helps people with chronic conditions or long-term disabilities live independently. The program provides funds to pay PCAs who help patients with activities of daily living while members receiving the services act as the PCA’s employer.

MassHealth members who are unable to manage the hiring, training and firing of PCAs themselves may pick a “surrogate” to act for them (typically a family member or legal guardian). MassHealth does not allow surrogates to provide PCA services, and does not pay them to act as surrogates. 

The MassHealth AFC program provides for members to receive full-time personal care and requires that the caregiver live with the member. MassHealth contracts with AFC providers to ensure that members receive 24-hour direct personal care, and to provide nursing oversight and case management.

Under AFC regulation, MassHealth will not pay for AFC services if a member is receiving PCA services at the same time. 

Assistant Attorney General Evelyn Y. Tang of Attorney General Maura Healey’s Medicaid Fraud Division handled this case, which was investigated by Investigators April Waterhouse and Michael Russo, also of the Medicaid Fraud Division. The Boston office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General assisted with the investigation along with the State Auditor’s Office.

羅德島大學孔子學院慶祝雞年新春

          罗德岛大学孔子学院举办鸡年新春晚会

     东风迎新岁，瑞雪兆丰年，外边一片银装素裹，罗德岛大学Edward礼堂却是张灯结彩，热情洋溢。2月18日下午，罗德岛地区居民与罗德岛大学的师生们欢聚一堂，隆重举行罗德岛大学新春晚会，庆贺鸡年的到来。

在新春晚会开始之前，中国传统文化活动就吸引了当地居民们的注意，大家纷纷执起毛笔，拿起剪刀，练起了书法，做起了手工。这一边大家品尝着中国传统小吃：春卷、麻球、年糕.......，聊起了中国美食，谈起了中国文化。

这次的春节晚会由罗德岛大学中文领航项目三年级的学生方丹霓，领航项目二年级的学生董幸晴、张追逐和韩本山主持，孔子学院院长何文潮教授和罗德岛大学文理学院院长Winnie Brownell博士致开幕辞，今年即将退休的Winnie 院长在致辞中对罗德岛大学领航项目和孔子学院这几年的进步做了充分的肯定，也对大家表达了新年祝福。

晚会在洛基山学校带来的汉代舞蹈《礼仪之邦》中拉开了序幕，浓浓的中国历史文化气息扑面而来。紧接着该校师生合唱的《童话》赢得了台下热烈的掌声。而此次表演主秀——波士顿中华民间艺术工作坊团队给晚会带来了一个又一个流光溢彩的炫目舞台，一场又一场别出心裁的精彩演出。首演《鼓舞奔腾》将晚会推向了第一个高潮，阵阵鼓声擂动人心，台下掌声不断。舞龙表演《龙驰九霄》是光与影，武与舞的完美结合，将中国传统舞龙表演诠释得极为精彩。而工作坊的姑娘们的《繁花似锦》、《圆月踏灯》舞姿绰约，古典唯美。传统技艺空竹表演《活铃活现》将晚会推向了至高点，喝彩一阵高过一阵。舞狮表演《祥狮献瑞》中两只可爱的“狮子”更是走近了观众，将中国新春的喜气、福气带到了大家身边。由罗德岛大学中国文化俱乐部的老师们带来的维吾尔族《新疆舞》，将中国少数民族艺术文化呈现在了大家面前；中国文化俱乐部的孩子们带来的伞舞《旋韵》亦是轻巧灵动，充满江南韵味。由罗德岛大学领航项目二年级学生苏红梨带来的葫芦丝表演《阿瓦人民唱新歌》，更是充分体现了罗德岛大学学生对中国乐器的热爱与熟稔。晚会在罗德岛大学领航项目和孔子学院师生们的合唱《青春舞曲》、《阿里山的姑娘》中拉下帷幕。

    欢乐的时光总是显得那么短暂，精彩的表演让人意犹未尽，这一场视觉盛宴，不仅充分展示了罗德岛大学师生们的活力与激情，更展示了师生和谐同乐的融洽关系，罗德岛大学孔子学院也将在新的一年再接再厉，共创辉煌！(羅德島大學万洁华提供)

紐英倫客家鄉親會慶祝天穿日 介紹客家諺語

波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪致詞。

(Boston Orange)紐英崙客家鄉親會2月18日在牛頓市海德社區中心慶祝”  天穿日 ”，200多人歡聚一堂，享用客家美食，欣賞客家歌謠，舞蹈，文物，都對客家文化有了更多認識。

紐英倫客家鄉親會的”天穿日”慶祝活動，在退休教授會長周一男的領導與鄉親們的同心協力策畫下，越辦越有規模，應邀出席的嘉賓們都讚不絕口。

宋玉琴(右)邱西薔 (左)介紹客家諺語

在麻糬，擂茶之外，邱西薔，宋玉琴主持的"雞無食，飛上桌"等客家諺語講談，把慶祝天穿日活動，帶上了更高層次。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪致詞時，也特別讚佩波士頓客家鄉親會在傳揚客家文化上的努力。波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉代表僑委會委員長吳新興感謝該會的長期協助僑委會推動僑務工作。

客家舞蹈表演:搓班粄圓。

當天的慶祝會由前會長陳裕逢任司儀，前會長曾秀梅，林岱等人全都加入表演團隊，獻上客家舞蹈，短劇。副會長林上田參與主持抽獎。

從紐約趕來祝賀的大紐約客家鄉親會副會長黃開榮，范增昌博士，以及交通部觀光局駐紐約辦事處主任張維庭都開金口，獻歌助興。

200多人出席紐英倫客家鄉親會慶祝天穿日活動。

當天到會的嘉賓還包括牛頓市市議員約翰萊斯(John Rice)，經文處副處長陳銘俊，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬，紐英崙中華專業人員協會會長蔡明機，新英格蘭台灣商會會長歐陽露等多名僑團首長。

                紐英倫客家鄉親會會長周一男表示，活動辦得成功，靠的是全體會員的熱心投入，客家鄉親們的無私團結，大家都看得到。(圖片:僑教中心提供)

紐英倫客家鄉親會天穿日慶祝會圖片

所有圖片:謝開明攝

紐英倫客家鄉親會成員與嘉賓合影。會長周一男(第二排左六)與經文處副處長陳銘俊(第二排左五)等人。

合唱客家歌謠。

經文處處長賴銘琪(右四)，左起，波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉，經文處副處長陳銘俊，和客家鄉親齊切蛋糕。

左起，經文處長賴銘琪，新英格蘭台灣商會歷任前會長，蔡坤喜，許炳煌，王本仁，以及前任理事林紀澤，右起，楊羅東，經文處副處長陳銘俊，台商會副會長林海倫，會長歐陽露等人同桌歡聚。

紐英倫客家鄉親會舞蹈團。

紐英倫客家鄉親會會長周一男(右三)歡迎嘉賓。右起，大紐約客家鄉親會副會長黃開榮，范增昌，經文處處長賴銘琪，副會長陳銘俊，范增昌夫人，觀光局張維庭。

黃氏宗親會慶新春 700多人同歡

黃氏婦女部演唱黃氏祖訓歌。

波士頓黃氏宗親會2月12日晚冒著風雪，在華埠帝苑大酒樓慶祝丁酉雞年新春，依照傳統習俗敬老。700多人歡聚一堂。

大會由黃周麗桃，黃惠如率領婦女部演唱黃氏祖訓歌和歡樂年年揭開序幕，從醒獅賀歲到歌唱表演，節目十分豐富。

包括駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪伉儷、僑教中心主任歐宏偉，麻州企業發展暨國際貿易助理署長范文南(Nam Pham)和麻州難民移民署署長陳瑪麗(Mary Trump)夫婦等有許多嘉賓應邀出席。

波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪致詞。

賴銘琪在致詞時特地感謝黃氏宗親對僑社服務的貢獻以及中華民國政府的支持，並祝福黃氏宗親身體健康、闔家平安，會務蒸蒸日上。

黃氏宗親會主席黃仁宇，黃國瀚在會中代表該會頒發獎學金鼓勵學子，封利是支持僑校及社區服務機構。(圖片由波士頓僑教中心提供)

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉與黃氏婦女部合影。