MAYOR WALSH BREAKS GROUND ON INNOVATION SQUARE, WELCOMES MASS INNOVATION LABS TO BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH BREAKS GROUND ON INNOVATION SQUARE, WELCOMES MASS INNOVATION LABS TO BOSTON

BOSTON - Wednesday, December 20, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Director Brian Golden today joined Related Beal to break ground on Innovation Square (iSQ) in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park and announced that Mass Innovation Labs, a biotech research accelerator, will anchor the first two floors, approximately 54,000 square feet, of the new life sciences development. "Innovation Square will further position Boston as a leader in the life sciences industry, attracting new companies and a range of job opportunities to benefit Boston residents and the region," said Mayor Walsh. "I am pleased to welcome Mass Innovation Labs to the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park, building on our work to fuel this area of the South Boston Waterfront with economic activity." iSQ, is a phased, 375,000 rentable square foot, research and development life science campus. It is the first new construction, multi-tenant lab building in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park on the South Boston Waterfront. Construction of Phase I, which consists of a four story, 125,000 rentable square foot R&D building, is expected to be completed in 2019. Related Beal, with its partner Kavanagh Advisory Group, signed a long term ground lease with the BPDA and closed construction loan financing for the development with East Boston Savings Bank. Once complete, Innovation Square will boost 900 jobs. Founded in 2015, Mass Innovation Labs offers flexible lab space solutions to help life sciences companies at various stages reach their next milestones. The company's success in Cambridge's Kendall Square has continued to evolve and the progression of customers such as Editas Medicine and CRISPR Therapeutics has fueled the need to expand to Boston, including iSQ. This week, Mass Innovation Labs also announced plans to open a facility in Brighton. "It's incredible to have witnessed the growth of Mass Innovation Labs over the past two years -- both from a brand perspective as well as seeing firsthand the progress our customers have made by utilizing our services to advance and streamline their workflows," said Amrit Chaudhuri, CEO and co-founder of Mass Innovation Labs. "With our recent expansion to Innovation Square, we're excited to be one of the first companies to participate in the long-term vision of the Eastern Seaport." Located at 6 Tide Street, on the corner of Tide Street and Northern Avenue, iSQ is designed to meet  today's flexible research and development requirements, including robust infrastructure and business amenities. The development will include a collaboration center, fitness center, interior bike storage, ample parking with electric vehicle charging stations, and green space. Innovation Square features an on-site MBTA Silver Line stop. "Mass Innovation Labs is the perfect tenant to kickoff iSQ," said Stephen Faber, Executive Vice President with Related Beal. "They nurture innovative, entrepreneurial, high growth organizations with the potential to create a substantial economic engine for Boston and the Commonwealth. We believe the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park in the Eastern Seaport has all of the ingredients to be the next great life science cluster." Boston has become a leader in the life sciences industries and will host the 2018 BIO International Convention in June.

TWO HYANNIS BARS CHARGED WITH OVERSERVING

TWO HYANNIS BARS CHARGED WITH OVERSERVING

ABCC’s Operation Safe Holidays program steps up enforcement efforts around the state

BOSTON –  This weekend Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) Investigators charged two Hyannis bars for overserving a visibly intoxicated individual. The incidents occurred on Friday, December 15th at The Duck Inn Pub, located at 447 Main Street and on Sunday, December 17th, at The Embargo, located at 453 Main Street. The bars will be summonsed before the ABCC to address the charges. If found to have violated the state Liquor Control Act, the bars’ liquor licenses will be subject to suspension.

This enforcement effort was conducted as part of the ABCC’s Operation Safe Holidays program, which focuses enforcement efforts at bars throughout the Commonwealth that have been most identified as the last bar to sell alcohol to a convicted drunk driver this holiday season.

“This effort supports safer roads throughout Massachusetts during the holiday season,” said Treasurer Deborah Goldberg. “This kind of enforcement prevents the sale of alcohol to intoxicated people who could put the public at risk. It also establishes a long-term deterrence for bar owners from over-serving.”

Run in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Impaired Driving Crackdown, the ABCC’s Sale to Intoxicated Persons (SIP) enforcement will be in effect Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Eve.

The ABCC will also be working with local police departments that have identified high risk locations in their communities.

Alcohol is involved in 40 percent of traffic crash fatalities resulting in 17,013 fatalities and injuring an estimated 275,000 people annually. Data indicates that well over 50% of impaired driving arrests originate at bars.

Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission is an agency under the Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General Deborah B. Goldberg. Its overall objective is to provide uniform control over the sale, purchase, transportation, manufacture, and possession of alcoholic beverages in the state.

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY’S TOP BORROWED TITLES OF 2017

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY’S TOP BORROWED TITLES OF 2017

BOSTON – December 20, 2017 – Boston Public Library’s top borrowed adult titles of 2017 feature a range of acclaimed, prize-winning, and bestselling works by talented writers.

“Bostonians continue to value staying up to date with popular media and culture; three of our top ten books were recently adapted to film or television, while Hillbilly Elegy addresses current political and social issues,” said Jessica Tackett MacDonald, Collection Development Librarian. “Cardholders also love a good Pulitzer Prize winner: The Underground Railroad, All the Light We Cannot See, and The Goldfinch were all given this honor.”

Top Borrowed Adult Titles:

1.       The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

2.       The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

3.       The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

4.       Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

5.       A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman

6.       Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

7.       The Girls by Emma Cline

8.       Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

9.       The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

10.   All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

劍橋合唱團慶祝成立25週年藉動漫"記憶童年"

劍橋合唱團演唱。(周菊子攝)

今年上台演唱的團員們。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子劍橋市報導) 成立於1992年的劍橋合唱團，12月17日在麻省理工學院的沃克紀念廳(Walker Memorial Hall)，以”記憶童年”為主題，舉行冬季音樂會，慶祝25週年。

合唱團應聽眾要求，安可一曲"Can you Feel the Love Tonight"。
(周菊子攝)

            經由指揮顏毓芬，以及團長屠澤寬，行政總監曾莉涵等人的策畫，劍橋合唱團當晚演唱的歌曲，一大半來自動漫影片。上半場演唱的6首歌曲，有”海洋奇緣”中的”We Know the Way”，”How Far I’ll Go”，”獅子王”的”Circle of Life”，”美女與野獸”的”Beauty and the Beast”，”小美人魚"的"Part of your World"，"阿拉丁"的"A Whole New World"，下半場演唱的"冰雪奇緣"的”Do you Want to Build a Snowman”， “In Summer”，”Let It Go”，”愛神組曲”，”鳳飛飛組曲”，”玫瑰玫瑰我愛你”。

            劍橋合唱團在節目冊中，貼心的做了中英文並列樂曲簡介，包括與影片同名的”美女與野獸”這首曲目，當年是由歌唱天后席琳狄翁主唱，贏得了奧斯卡最佳歌曲獎，以及葛萊美最佳合唱歌曲獎，”冰雪奇緣”是2013年以電腦動畫技術製作的3D電影，也是迪士尼帝23部經典動畫長片等的樂曲背景描述，讓聽眾欣賞得更加投入。

劍橋合唱團指揮顏毓芬。

            由於留學生畢業就歸國，年輕專業人士會為新工作遷往他方，年紀漸長者會因需要調整生活步調，劍橋合唱團的團員每年都有變化，當晚在台上演唱的團員，大部分都近5年才加入，久居此地的老波士頓人在當晚會中既有”人面不知何處去，桃花依舊笑春風”的時代變遷感慨，也有欣見新人輩出的喜悅。

            波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處新聞組副組長趙昌倫，當晚都特地攜家帶眷出席，以聊表他們對這社團已跨越四分之一世紀的支持。

            新英格蘭台灣青商會會長歐怡君等人也因該會副會長饒夢華是合唱團團員，義不容辭地率會員出席，還當義工。

劍橋合唱團團長屠澤寬。

            該團行政總監曾莉涵指出，該團現有團員35人，分女高，女中，男高，男低四個聲部，團員年齡從20幾歲到七，八十歲的都有，其中至少3名音樂專業人士，包括做指揮的伊利諾大學藝術博士顏毓芬，正在波士頓大學主修鋼琴演奏博士的伴奏林宜穎，以及聲樂專業畢業，唱女中音，目前在音樂學校任教的她自己。劍橋合唱團每週五晚 上 8:00-10:00 在 M.I.T. 4-270 教室練唱，雖時歡迎有興趣者加入，聯絡方式為contact@mitcccs.org。

劍橋合唱團，右起，現任副團長曾莉涵，團長屠澤寬，指揮顏毓芬，
前任團長陳立英。(周菊子攝)

劍橋合唱團中臥虎藏龍，團員之一是波士頓華埠社區中心董事，
德勤公司市場發展服務經理李姍姍(左)。她演唱，丈夫(右)當義工。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(中)與妻女一起到會，支持劍橋合唱團。
(周菊子攝)

麻州民主黨不滿州長貝克的醫療補助計畫

New Report Finds Governor Baker’s Medicaid Plan ‘Would Threaten Health Coverage for Tens of Thousands’

Massachusetts Democrats: ‘Governor Baker Should Be Ashamed’

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Democratic Party today responded to a new report from the national Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which found that Medicaid waiver proposals in Arkansas and Massachusetts “would threaten health coverage for tens of thousands of low-income individuals.” If the waivers are approved, Massachusetts and Arkansas would be the first two states to roll back the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid coverage for low-income working people.

“As Republicans in Congress work to repeal part of the Affordable Care Act this week, Governor Baker is asking the Trump Administration for permission to take away health coverage from tens of thousands of hard-working people across Massachusetts,” said Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford. “Governor Baker should be ashamed that he’s trying to join Arkansas in kicking working parents off of Medicaid.”

The report found that “approval of Arkansas’ and Massachusetts’ partial expansion requests would mean that low income adults with incomes between 100 and 138 percent of the poverty line would no longer qualify for Medicaid coverage,” and that “although many of those affected would be eligible for federal tax credits to help buy coverage in the individual health insurance market, solid evidence indicates that a sizable number of them would become uninsured, while others would be left with less affordable or less adequate coverage.”

“That’s partly because individual market plans, even with tax credits, are less affordable than Medicaid for people with incomes just above the poverty line,” the report reads. “It’s also because some in this group would be ineligible for tax credits because their employer offers them coverage, even though that coverage would require them to pay a substantial share of their income in premiums.”

“Governor Baker’s plan to take Medicaid away from working families won’t reduce the overall cost of healthcare one cent. By forcing people onto higher-cost private insurance plans with less generous coverage, he’s just trying to shift the cost to hard-working families who are already struggling to pay their bills,” said Bickford. “Baker should stop his attacks on Medicaid and listen to Democrats in the Legislature who are working to reduce the real cost of health care by cracking down on the high cost of prescription drugs, investing in addiction prevention and recovery, and reducing hospital admissions.”

Background on the Massachusetts Republican Assault on Our Healthcare

In April, House Republicans announced a plan to charge premiums to 1.2 million Massachusetts residents who receive MassHealth, raising their annual costs by an average of $2,000.

Outside Section 72 of Governor Baker’s proposed FY2018 budget would have eliminated certain healthcare benefits for close to 300,000 people in the MassHealth CarePlus program for Obamacare beneficiaries in Massachusetts.

In July, Democratic members of the House and Senate rejected Baker’s initial attempt to kick 100,000 working parents off of Medicaid and onto private insurance plans with less generous coverage and higher out-of-pocket costs.

BURGER KING FRANCHISEE TO PAY $250,000 PENALTY

BURGER KING FRANCHISEE TO PAY $250,000 PENALTY

Franchisee with 43 Massachusetts Stores Agrees to Pay Citation for Violations of Child Labor Laws Including Teenagers Working Past 3 a.m.

BOSTON – A Burger King franchisee with 43 stores in Massachusetts has agreed to pay a $250,000 penalty and has come into compliance with state law after an investigation found more than 800 child labor violations at stores across the state, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The AG’s Office cited Northeast Foods, LLC, headquartered in Sugarland, TX, and owner Shoukat Dhanani, for violating state child labor laws by employing minors who were working too long, too late, and without proper work permits. Dhanani is the second largest Burger King franchise owner in the country and owns Burger King locations in several states. 

            “Many fast food employees are young, working their first jobs, and do not know their rights,” said AG Healey. “It’s important that this major national Burger King franchisee, which employees a number of young people, complies with child labor laws and ensures that minors are safe in its restaurants.”

The AG’s Fair Labor Division began an investigation after it received a single complaint that a minor employee was working too late at a location in Tewksbury. 

The AG’s investigation revealed that between January and May 2017 there were 843 violations of child labor laws at nearly 30 locations in Massachusetts. Among the violations uncovered were minors working shifts that exceeded the total maximum daily hours allowed or shifts that ended later than allowed under state law, in some instances past 3 a.m. Many of the minor employees also did not have the proper work permits. Along with agreeing to pay the penalty over the next year, Northeast Foods swiftly updated its practices and has since come into compliance with all Massachusetts child labor laws.

Child labor laws prescribe how many hours minors can work each day or per week and how late they can work, depending their age. Employers must also obtain work permits for all minors in their employment.

Child labor laws require the following to ensure a safe and positive work experience for minors:

·         Minimum wage. The minimum wage in Massachusetts is $11 an hour. 

·         Minors younger than 14 may not work. There are a few exceptions, such as babysitting, working as a news carrier, working on farms, or working in entertainment (with a special permit).

·         Work Permits. Workers under 18 years old need a new work permit for every job. The application for a work permit must be filled out by the parent or guardian, the minor, and employer and submitted to the school district where the child lives or attends school. Minors who are 14 or 15 also need a physician’s signature. For more information about work permits and to download an application, visit www.mass.gov/dols/youth.

·         Hazardous Jobs. Teens under 18 years of age are prohibited from doing certain kinds of dangerous work. For a list of prohibited tasks for minors 14-15 and 16-17 years old, go to www.mass.gov/ago/youthemployment.

·         Supervision. After 8 p.m., all workers under 18 must have the direct and immediate supervision of an adult supervisor who is located in the workplace and is reasonably accessible to the minor.

·         Legal Work Hours for Minors. Massachusetts law controls how early and how late minors may work and how many hours they may work, based on their age. To determine the relevant the legal work hours go to www.mass.gov/ago/youthemployment.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Amy Goyer and Investigator Christina Proietti, both of AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division.

紐英崙中華公所與大同村居民同慶聖誕節

(Boston Orange )(周菊子波士頓報導)紐英崙中華公所12月16日在泰勒街90號會址舉辦聖誕聯歡會，包括公所董事，大同村居民，共200多人擠擠一堂，享用美食，搶接阮鴻燦，陳文浩這兩名聖誕老公公拋贈的禮物，還緊張的抽大獎，會場非常熱鬧。

左起，雷國輝，阮鴻燦夫人，陳余寶愛，朱健威(後)，李翠屏，阮鴻燦，
陳家驊，歐宏偉，陳文浩，翁宇才夫人這天都為中華公所聖誕聯歡
會出力，出禮物。(周菊子攝)

              聯歡會主持人，即將卸任的中華公所中文書記翁宇才，核數李翠屏先指出，中華公所是大同村業主，接著特地向大同村居民們介紹新一屆的中華公所職員，包括連任的主席陳家驊，新任中文書記雷國輝，連任的英文書記朱蘇珊，連任的財政陳文浩，以及新任，當天並未到場的核數周樹昂。

              大同村管理處經理翁麗芳也在主持人促請中，把當天出席當義工的4名管理處工作人員邀上台，讓大同村居民們熟悉一下他們各人的面貌。

              波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉這天特地代表僑委會委員長吳新興，以及駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，向與會者表達年節祝福，歡迎眾人明年1月1日到牛頓市僑教中心會址參加元旦升旗典禮。

陳文浩(右)，阮鴻燦(左)扮聖誕老人，一胖一瘦，有如勞萊哈台，
帶給會眾許多歡樂。(周菊子攝)

              紐英崙中華公所聖誕聯歡會的抽獎禮品，全由董事及各界捐贈。今年的最大獎是經文處處長賴銘琪捐出的美金100元亞馬遜禮卡。

              中華公所董事李奇舜，關麗莎，司徒宗達，韓幼文，余麗媖，以及既是中華公所董事，也是大同村居民的黃國威，阮謝少珍，以及前廣教學校校長湯鳳鳴都出席了聯歡會。

              紐英崙中華公所與大同村居民攜手舉辦聖誕聯歡會，已行之有年。中華公所職員，職員配偶，工作人員以及大同村管理處工作人員，這天都是理所當然的義工，擺椅子，鋪桌子，運送及分裝食品的忙碌非常。

今年出席中華公所聯歡會的人數踴躍，預計每人一瓶的豆漿，
結果不夠分。(周菊子攝)

翁宇才(左)，李翠屏(右)是今年的聯歡會主持人。(周菊子攝)

左起，阮謝少珍，黃國威，陳余寶愛，陳家驊，翁宇才。(周菊子攝)

大同村管理處經理翁麗芳(右一)介紹管理處工作人員。右二為
中華公所主席陳家驊。(周菊子攝) 

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉說明最大獎是經文處處長賴銘琪送的。(周菊子攝)

中華藝協年終派對慶林愛迪82生日

【紐英崙中華藝術協會年終派對  並賀林會長82歲壽誕】

紐英崙中華藝術協會學生們在派對中準備生日蛋糕祝賀會長林愛迪82歲

生日，由林愛迪和總監陳玉律老師共同切蛋糕

紐英崙中華藝術協會於12月16日在ACAS中心舉行年終感恩派對，由該會家長準備各類美食佳餚供大家享用，學生們也自行安排許多遊戲活動，並由家長蔡高進裝扮成聖誕老人分送獎品，和與會來賓、家長和學生們合影，讓近200位該團教師、家長、學生及賓客共同度過一個愉快的夜晚。

該會會長林愛迪表示，每年到了歲末年終，為了感謝各類舞蹈教師，同時慰勞辛苦的家長和學生們，都會舉辦年終派對來相互祝賀；他非常感謝中華民國僑務委員會及駐波士頓臺北經文處的支持，讓該會持續成長與茁壯。

紐英崙中華藝術協會學生們在派對中為大家提供服務

應邀出席的波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，致詞感謝該會多年來積極參與牛頓臺灣日、雙十國慶等大型僑社活動，也轉達僑務委員會委員長吳新興博士，以及駐波士頓辦事處處長賴銘琪對大家的問候與祝福；歐宏偉表示，因為賴處長另有公務不克親自參加，特別提供美金100元亞馬遜禮卡1份和多盒巧克力供摸彩之用，他也分送僑務委員會剛剛寄達的「臺灣特有種鳥類」月曆，深獲大家喜愛。

另因12月19日出生的會長林愛迪82壽辰將至，所以家長和學生們也在派對中準備大型生日蛋糕為他賀壽。在全體與會人士高唱生日快樂歌之後，由林愛迪和總監陳玉律老師共同切蛋糕，他除了感謝大家之外，也頻頻說道「我還有三天才生日，我還年輕...」，幽默風趣的言談讓全場歡笑聲不斷。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)

中華民俗藝術工作坊年終感恩 200多人歡聚一堂

紐英崙中華民俗藝術工作坊團長張昆(第三排右一)和家長、學員與波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(第二排左六)合影

【中華民俗藝術工作坊年終派對  歐宏偉勉勵與賀節】

紐英崙中華民俗藝術工作坊於12月15日在ACAS中心舉行年終感恩派對，除準備臺灣美食佳餚供大家享用之外，也安排許多遊戲與餘興節目，讓與會近200位該團教師、家長及學員們度過一個愉快的夜晚，並相互祝福佳節快樂。

該團團長張昆表示，每年到了歲末年終，為了對扯鈴、舞蹈、武術等各位教師表達謝意，同時慰勞辛苦的家長們和持續努力的學員們，都會舉辦年終派對來祝賀大家有個美好的聖誕假期；他非常感謝中華民國僑務委員會及駐波士頓臺北經文處的支持，讓該團可以不斷的成長與茁壯。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(中)表揚該團武術教師(左一)、扯鈴老師 

  (右二)，以及勞苦功高的家長周美卿(右一)等人。

應邀出席的波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉致詞時強調，全團成員都來自臺灣的工作坊家長與學員們，是在波士頓地區推展我國多元優質文化的主力，很感謝該團多年來積極參與元旦升旗、牛頓臺灣日、雙十國慶等大型僑社活動，尤其在主流社會向各族裔人士展演，更是充分展現臺灣文化軟實力的典範；歐宏偉也特別轉達僑務委員會委員長吳新興博士，以及駐波士頓辦事處處長賴銘琪對大家的問候與祝福。

該團仍今年12月31日將循往例在麻州鱈魚角「第一夜」活動中演出，明年1月1日也將應波士頓僑教中心邀請，在元旦升旗典禮中擔綱演出；團長張昆表示，全團將於今年12月29至30日再進行集訓，務求演出順成圓滿。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)