Winners of 2017 Massachusetts Tomato Contest announced

State Agricultural Officials Announce Winners of 2017 Massachusetts Tomato Contest

33rd annual tomato competition draws 59 entries

BOSTON – Massachusetts agricultural officials joined tomato farmers from across the state today at the KITCHEN at the Boston Public Market for the Commonwealth’s 33rdAnnual Tomato Contest. Designed to increase awareness of locally grown produce, this year’s contest drew 59 entries from 12 farms.

“The annual Tomato Contest is a fun tradition that highlights the diversity and quality of Massachusetts agriculture,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton. “As we approach peak growing season, I encourage all residents to try a new variety of tomato from their local farm or farmers’ market to support their local farmers.”

After the entries were judged by a panel of food writers, chefs, produce experts and state officials on flavor, firmness/slicing quality, exterior color and shape,  Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux announced that the top prizes went to farmers from North Easton, Sharon and Pepperell.

“The Tomato Contest provides growers across the Commonwealth the opportunity to showcase the delicious tomato varieties from Sungold to Black Prince, grown right here in our state,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “I am pleased to see the excitement surrounding this event for Massachusetts farmers and locally produced foods. I thank the Boston Public Market, the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association and Mass Farmers' Markets for their continued support of this event that highlights Massachusetts farmers.”

In addition to the presentation of awards, today’s Tomato Contest included a healthy cooking demonstration by UMass Extension, tomato tasting and information on nutrition and local farms. The contest is sponsored by DAR, the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association and Mass Farmers’ Markets and was hosted by the Boston Public Market Association and Trustees of Reservations.

“The Boston Public Market and its KITCHEN has provided Boston’s communities with access to local and nutritious produce and groceries,” said State Senator Joseph Boncore (D-Winthrop).  “The tomato contest is a great opportunity to showcase the hard work of our local farmers and the Kitchen’s work.”

“This will be the third year in a row that the Boston Public Market has had the honor of hosting the Tomato Contest,” said Cheryl Cronin, CEO of the Boston Public Market. “The Market was built to support local agriculture and to educate the public about food sources and nutrition. The Annual Tomato Contest creates an opportunity for growers from across the Commonwealth to showcase the fruits of their labor and for the public to get closer to the farmers who grow their food. Judging by the incredible tomatoes we've been seeing from our Boston Public Market farmers this summer, it's going to be a tough competition!”

“We wait all year for tomato season and we are thrilled to host MDAR’s Annual Tomato Contest in The KITCHEN. As a founding partner of the Boston Public Market and stewards of over 2000 acres of community farms and gardens across the State, The Trustees is committed to educating residents and visitors about the benefits of eating seasonally and supporting local agriculture,” said Lieza Dagher, Trustees’ Program Director of The KITCHEN at the Boston Public Market. “We are delighted to partner again this year with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to showcase the variety of flavor, color, shape and size of tomatoes grown in the Commonwealth.”

Of the more than 7,700 farms in Massachusetts, 759 annually produce more than 7.6 million pounds of tomatoes on 685 acres with a value of approximately $14.5 million. Consumers can find farmers’ markets, farm stands and other opportunities to buy local here.

2017 Massachusetts Tomato Contest Winners

Slicing Category

Place	Farm Name	Town	Variety
1	Langwater Farm	North Easton	BHN589
2	MacArthur Farm	Holliston	Tomimaru muchoo
3	Three Acre Farm	Berlin	Valley Girl
4	Langwater Farm	North Easton	BHN1021
5	C&C Reading Farm	Bryantville	BNH589
6	MacArthur Farm	Holliston	BHN589
7	Kimball Fruit Farm	Pepperell	Dixie Red
8	E. Cecchi Farms	Feeding Hills	Biltmore
9	Siena Farms	Sudbury	Beefsteak
10	Kimball Fruit Farm	Pepperell	BHN589

Cherry Category

Place	Farm Name	Town	Variety
1	Ward's Berry Farm	Sharon	Braveheart
2	Kimball Fruit Farm	Pepperell	Sungold
3	Langwater Farm	North Easton	Sungold
4	C&C Reading Farm	Bryantville	Sun Sugar
5	Ward's Berry Farm	Sharon	Sugary
6	Three Acre Farm	Berlin	Sungold
7	Sienna Farms	Sudbury	Sungold
8	C&C Reading Farm	Bryantville	Heart Throb
9	Still Life Farm	Hardwick	Striped Tiger
10	MacArthur Farm	Holliston	Sungold

Heirloom Category

Place	Farm Name	Town	Variety
1	Kimball Fruit Farm	Pepperell	Carbon
2	Sienna Farms	Sudbury	Brandywine
3	Ward's Berry Farm	Sharon	Cherokee Chocolate
4	E. Cecchi Farms	Feeding Hills	Amana
5	Ward's Berry Farm	Sharon	Royal Hillbilly
6	Kimball Fruit Farm	Pepperell	Orange Russian 117
7	Langwater Farm	North Easton	Cherokee Green
8	Langwater Farm	North Easton	Cherokee Purple
9	Ward's Berry Farm	Sharon	Cherokee Carbon
10	MacArthur Farm	Holliston	Yellow Brandywine

Heaviest Category

Place	Farm Name	Town	Variety	Weight (lbs)
1	Ward's Berry Farm	Sharon	Heirloom Yellow	2.315
2	Langwater Farm	North Easton	Striped German	2.263
3	Kimball Fruit Farm	Pepperell	Pineapple	2.238
4	Sienna Farms	Sudbury	Striped German	2.235
5	Harpers Farm and Garden	Lancaster	Striped German	1.920
6	Hanson's Farm	Framingham	Striped German	1.739
7	E. Cecchi Farms	Feeding Hills	Brandywine	1.710

至孝篤親公所慶中秋發獎學金 (圖片)

所有圖片陳建立攝，提供

台北醫學大學生技EMBA團訪問波士頓

駐波士頓教育組組長陳幗珍(中著藍綠色洋裝) 北醫EMBA訪問團長

許怡欣教授（陳組長左）與座談會成員會後於華埠牌樓前合影

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)臺北醫學大學生技EMBA團8月19日至23日訪問波士頓，將拜會哈佛大學創新實驗室(Harvard Innovation Lab)與麻省理工學院醫學工程研究所(Institute of Medical Engineering and Science)，訂23日在哈佛大學舉辦美東參訪成果發表會。

駐波士頓經文處教育組新到任組長陳幗珍19日特地在香滿園餐廳設宴接風，不但邀有經文處新到任的趙昌倫副組長，王麗芬秘書做陪，還邀來波士頓臺灣人生物科技協會(BTBA)，新英格蘭玉山科技協會(MJNE)兩會幹部，以及李小玉醫師等臺北醫學大學大波士頓地區校友共聚，交流討論波士頓的生物科技發展概況。

她一邊笑說北醫參訪團的到來，正好給她機會更快的認識本地科技團體，一邊指出，教育部設有學海系列計畫，鼓勵學生利用暑假到海外實習，累積國際經驗，希望學生們盡量利用。

許怡欣主任率領的臺北醫學大學生技EMBA團，一行12人，抵達波士頓前，已在紐約參訪了哥倫比亞大醫學院及長老教會醫院。到波士頓的哈佛iLab，MIT醫學工程研究所參訪後，將於8月23日在哈佛大學為這次的美國東部參訪，舉辦成果發表展。

許欣怡表示，她們這次出訪，主題之一是創新創業。到哥倫比亞大學產學合作辦公室拜訪時，看到美國大學把研究成果轉移給業界，成功地為學校帶來可觀利潤，讓他們深覺這樣的產學合作模式與技轉制度，值得借鏡。在紐約時，她們還參觀了哥倫比亞大學的附屬醫院，也感受到海外華人僑胞的溫暖與力量。

出席餐敘的玉山科協會會會長許翠玲，前會長李政欣等人指出，哥倫比亞大學的產學合作模式和麻州劍橋許多機構的支持創業公司做法極為相似。麻省理工學院每年協助教職員或學生和業界公司合作，把研發成果大量開發上市，也給學校帶來十分驚人的利潤。

在座談中，訪問團成員和波士頓臺灣人生物科技協會，玉山科技協會還互相交流了醫學制度、臺美醫院管理差異，甚至臺美文化差別等。(內容資料及圖片由經文處教育組提供)

波士頓台大校友9/9 迎新

大波士頓地區臺大校友會將於九月九日（星期六）中午十二時半到下午三時半舉辦迎新活動，歡迎到大波士頓地區來念書及新來工作的台大校友，校友會希望藉此一活動能幫助校友們適應大波士頓地區的環境與生活。地點在 Brookline Coolidge Corner Library, 31 Pleasant Street, Brookline, MA 02446，可坐地鐵綠色C線在Coolidge Corner站下。請參加的校友將中英文姓名email 到gbaantu@gmail.com。校友會不收費用並備有薄點招待及迎新抽獎禮物。校友會網址：http://gbaantu.org/；臉書:https://www.facebook.com/gbaantu。

摩頓市獲得50萬元改善學校科技

City Receives Funding for Technology Upgrades in Schools

Monday, August 21, 2017

Superintendent John Oteri and Mayor Gary Christenson are pleased to announce that Malden was selected for E-Rate Category 2 funding for the 2017-2018 school year in the amount of $486,604.59. Malden Public Schools Business Manager Toni Mertz and Internet Technology Director Anthony Rodrigues worked to secure the funds which will provide wireless upgrades and replacements of the computer infrastructure at all school locations. E-Rate, formally known as the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, supports connectivity for communications using telecommunications or the Internet. The program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The City has also received funding in the amount of $135,772.80 for Category 1 expenditures, namely internet connectivity.

“I’m grateful to Toni Mertz and Anthony Rodrigues for their efforts to obtain this funding,” said Superintendent John Oteri. “This grant will enable the Malden Public Schools to make significant infrastructure upgrades in technology which will not only support teaching and learning, but also foster overall student achievement."

CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES RFP FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES RFP FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

To create pipeline for Boston residents to jobs in the creative industries

BOSTON - Monday, August 21, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a consultant to design and implement a Creative Industries workforce development program within the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD). The initiative is a joint venture between OWD, Emerson College and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) and will identify how to create opportunities for Boston residents to gain employment in the Creative Industries. The RFP builds off of a core component of Mayor Martin J. Walsh's Boston Creates Cultural Plan to prioritize, coordinate, and align public and private resources to strengthen the City of Boston's creative capital over the long term. The City of Boston will provide $75,000 in funding for the execution of this feasibility study. "In order to support and strengthen our creative industries sector, and to work to diversify its ranks, we must ensure that our young people and adults can access pathways to the careers where there is a demand," said Mayor Walsh. "I thank Emerson and MassArt for their partnership on this important initiative that will bring together public and private resources to create more opportunities for our residents." "Emerson College is excited about the possibilities and opportunities this new partnership with the City of Boston could bring to area residents and the local creative economy," said Ruthanne Madsen, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Emerson College. "The findings of the study could assist us in identifying new educational pathways and programming to support student access, community engagement, and cultural enrichment." "This partnership enables MassArt to better achieve our mission -- to prepare students from diverse backgrounds to participate in the creative economy," said Daniel Serig, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at MassArt. "Boston students need and deserve access to these careers that continue to grow and expand." The research and/or consultant team chosen will conduct a feasibility assessment of higher education and training programs that provide career pathways in the creative economy sector. This assessment will investigate programs already in operation as well as programs in the pipeline for future development, particularly as it relates to Emerson College and MassArt. The selected team will synthesize the literature and existing research available on the topic of the creative economy labor market with educational programming in order to ascertain the pathways which provide immediate access to a defined career path. The report will be used to increase knowledge within Boston Public Schools, to create more opportunities for Boston's young people to access careers in the creative economy. In a recent report, the Boston Planning & Development Agency found that creative employment in 2014 totaled 29,762 jobs in business establishments - this is 5.4 percent of Boston's total private sector payroll employment. An additional 6,483 people were self-employed in the creative industries. Including this self-employment measure, Boston's Creative Economy totals 36,254 workers. The 29,762 workers on payrolls across Boston took home over 2.4 billion dollars combined, averaging $81,179 in annual wages.   The RFP was released on Monday, August 21 and proposals are due by September 21 at 5 p.m. About Boston Creates In June 2016, Mayor Walsh announced the Boston Creates Cultural Plan, a ten-year initiative that will align public and private resources to strengthen cultural vitality over the long-term, and weave arts and culture into the fabric of everyday life.  Cities with high levels of creative capital encourage, reward and integrate imaginative thinking into all aspects of community life. Boston wants to better understand the creative capital of Boston and develop a plan that will prioritize, coordinate, and align public and private resources to strengthen this creative capital over the long term. Boston Creates helped inform the final Imagine Boston 2030 plan, Boston's first citywide plan in over 50 years. Imagine Boston 2030, which has been underway since fall of 2015 and has been shaped by the input of over 15,000 residents of Boston, is a comprehensive vision to boost quality of life, equity and resilience in every neighborhood across the city. The plan outlines Boston's current economic and population boom, and, while that growth presents challenges, it also presents an opportunity to provide access to economic mobility and opportunity. It also demonstrates avenues for quality of life improvements while increasing affordability and resiliency. Imagine Boston 2030 identifies major initiatives to expand opportunity for all Bostonians, support a vibrant economy, enhance quality of life, and prepare for climate change.

AG HEALEY RETURNS $500,000 TO MASSHEALTH IN SETTLEMENT WITH SPRINGFIELD DENTIST OVER ALLEGED IMPROPER BILLING

AG HEALEY RETURNS $500,000 TO MASSHEALTH IN SETTLEMENT WITH SPRINGFIELD DENTIST OVER ALLEGED IMPROPER BILLING

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that her office has reached a settlement with a pediatric dentist in Springfield, returning $500,000 to the state’s Medicaid program (MassHealth) and resolving claims that the dentist improperly billed the program for services.

The settlement agreement resolves allegations that Dr. Annie Watson, DDS and her dental practice, Gentle Smiles, LLC, improperly billed MassHealth for palliative care (emergency pain treatment) between March 2010 and June 2013, and failed to comply with MassHealth rules associated with the use of that emergency treatment billing code. 

The AG’s Office began an investigation into Dr. Watson and Gentle Smiles upon a referral from MassHealth, which identified Dr. Watson as the top biller of the palliative care code among all MassHealth dental providers.

Palliative care is the emergency treatment of dental pain that relieves the pain but is not curative and can include draining of an abscess or prescribing pain medication or antibiotics. In order to bill this code, the patient’s dental record must contain a description of the treatment provided and must document that the treatment was given on an emergency basis.

The AG’s investigation revealed that Dr. Watson routinely billed for palliative care without any supporting documentation, including when patients only received cleanings and x-rays.

Under the terms of the civil settlement, Dr. Watson and her business will pay MassHealth $500,000 as restitution for improper billing. The settlement also requires that Dr. Watson and her employees review and comply with all applicable state and federal statutes, and all regulations governing participation in MassHealth.

MassHealth provides healthcare products and services to eligible low-income individuals, including people with disabilities, children and senior citizens.

            This matter was handled by Managing Attorney Lee Hettinger and Investigator Deborah El Majdoubi, both of the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division. MassHealth assisted in this investigation. 

北一女、建中校友大波士頓聯歡

【北一女建中校友聯歡  波士頓敘舊話當年】

北一女校友會會長吳國志(左二)、建中校友會會長王子仁(左一)與駐
波士頓臺北經文處處長賴銘琪伉儷(中、右二)和僑教中心主任
歐宏偉(右一)合影。

波士頓北一女校友會和建中校友會於8月19日艾克頓市的Nara Park舉辦聯合野餐活動，兩校校友及家屬近百人參加，當中也有不少北一女年輕校友參加，現場除準備許多美食佳餚之外，也安排餘興及聯誼節目，現場歡笑聲不斷，溫馨熱絡。

駐波士頓臺北經文處處長賴銘琪伉儷和僑教中心主任歐宏偉也應邀出席，賴銘琪表示，今天最主要的目的是陪同北一女校友的處長夫人雲雯蓁女士來參加，也期許校友們踴躍參與今年慶祝雙十國慶各項活動；歐宏偉向兩校校友致意，並鼓勵僑胞鄉親踴躍組團返國參加十月慶典活動，也可順道安排自費體驗臺灣優質健檢服務安心專案的行程。

北一女校友會會長吳國志表示，夏日野餐聯誼活動是該校校友會的年度大事之一，自去年起邀請建中校友會一同舉辦，增進兩校情誼，也讓參與的僑胞鄉親人數大幅增加；吳國志也提出呼籲，希望老中青三代的北一女校友加入校友會的行列；建中校友會的會長由王子仁教授接任，他也鼓勵海外的建中校友踴躍參加各項僑社活動。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)

中華藝協舞蹈夏令營結業

【藝協舞蹈夏令營結業  展現學習成果】

由中華民國僑務委員會贊助的紐英崙中華藝術協會舞蹈夏令營，8月19日下午舉行結業式與成果發表，由各組學員演出一週的學習成果，包括芭蕾、爵士、民族舞蹈等各類節目，吸引學員家長及各界人士近200人到場觀賞。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉在閉幕式時應邀致詞，讚許林愛迪會長和陳玉律總監30餘年來在海外傳揚中文傳統文化的付出與貢獻，也祝賀夏令圓滿成功；陳玉律感謝僑委會的支持、老師的辛勞、輔導員的協助、家長的配合與學員們的努力，致使今年的夏令營順利成功。

3組學員將一週來習得的嘻哈、爵士、芭蕾、傳統舞蹈基本功及民族舞蹈，一一呈現，在場的家長們也一邊欣賞演出，一邊拿起相機和手機，為子女留下舞蹈夏令營美好的回憶。(圖與文:波士頓華僑文教中心提供)

估計數千人將上街遊行對抗"自由言論"組織的遊行

(Boston Orange 整理報導) 被視為支持白人至上主義者的”自由言論(Free Speech)”將於19日在波士頓遊行一事，在波士頓本地引發激烈反應，一群活躍份子揚言將召集數以萬計民眾，從洛士百利遊行到波士頓廣場以示對抗。

            洛士百利的活躍份子Monica Cannon表示，他們預計會有2到3萬人站出來。他們聯絡了猶太社區，亞裔社區，全美各地都有人會趕來。她知道的就有來自多倫多，明尼阿波里斯的黑人生命重要(Black Lives Matter)全球網。還有人會從夏洛茲維爾(Charlottesville)趕來。

Cannon 和波士頓市議員候選人Angelina Camacho18日開了一個記者會，說明他們計畫在19日舉辦”對抗至上，波士頓反抗議及抵抗遊行”。”波士頓內暴力”，波士頓，劍橋市的”黑人生命重要”都參與組織這場遊行，在臉書上預定參加的人數已達11,300，有意參加的也有24,000人。

 他們的遊行預定早上10點從洛士百利的瑞吉路易斯(Reggie Lewis)體育中心開始，經由天滿街(Tremont)到波士頓廣場。

            Cannon表示，她已和波士頓警察局商量細節，她也希望波士頓市政府能更努力地避免讓言論自由那些人遊行。她說她不認為那些人是在表達自由言論，她相信那是仇恨言論。她希望市政府拒絕發給那些人遊行許可，逼他們上法庭，或者至少拖延遊行能舉行的時間。她認為如果市政府真的想要封閉這種仇恨言論，就會竭盡所能的不讓遊行發生。

Cannon還記得，去年波士頓市府就扣押了一個大麻遊行的許可。結果遊行組織者得上法庭取得緊急命令，逼波士頓市政府給他們許可。她不明白為什麼波士頓市這次沒有這麼做。