星期一, 3月 26, 2018
FOUR COMPANIES SETTLE ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL ASBESTOS WORK AT SALEM PUBLIC HOUSING FACILITY
FOUR COMPANIES SETTLE ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL ASBESTOS WORK AT SALEM PUBLIC HOUSING FACILITY
Settlement Includes $340,000 in Penalties and Requires Training in Asbestos Safety
BOSTON — Four companies will pay up to $340,000 to settle allegations of illegal asbestos work during the renovation of a public housing facility for elderly and disabled residents in Salem, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.
The complaint and consent judgment, entered Friday in Suffolk Superior Court, settles a lawsuit filed by the AG’s Office against the asbestos abatement contractor, E&F Environmental Services (E&F), and its owner and manager, Frank Balogh, as well as three other companies – New England Builders and Contractors, Blackstone Block Architects and TRC Environmental Corporation – for violating the state’s clean air law and regulations while working on renovations at the Pioneer Terrace housing facility in Salem.
“Asbestos poses serious health risks to workers and the public when it’s not handled properly. Here, our investigation uncovered widespread violations,” AG Healey said. “We will take action against companies and individuals who endanger the health of residents and workers through the improper handling of asbestos.”
The lawsuit also alleges that the Methuen-based New England Builders and Contractors and Boston-based Blackstone Block Architects violated the state’s False Claims Act by submitting claims for payment to the Salem Housing Authority, certifying that the improper work at the housing facility was completed in compliance with state law.
According to the AG’s Office, during the winter and spring of 2015, E&F illegally removed asbestos from Pioneer Terrace by failing to follow the proper procedures required by law to protect workers, residents, and the public from harmful asbestos exposure, including failing to properly store and contain asbestos-containing material. During inspections at the site, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) found asbestos violations by E&F employees at nearly every building they worked on in the housing complex.
“The Commonwealth’s asbestos regulations are designed to protect the public health and the environment,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “MassDEP will vigorously pursue and hold accountable companies and individuals that violate those regulations and put employees and other people in harm’s way.”
The lawsuit also alleges that while E&F was working with MassDEP to remediate the asbestos violations at Pioneer Terrace, the company allegedly failed to follow required asbestos abatement procedures during construction at a multi-family home in Medford.
Under the terms of today’s settlement, the defendants will pay a total of up to $340,000 in penalties to the state.
E&F and Balogh will pay $150,000, with $20,000 suspended if Balogh and the company’s other employees complete training on proper handling and disposal of asbestos. New England Builders & Contractors will pay $85,000, with $15,000 suspended pending asbestos training as well. The settlement also requires TRC Environmental Corporation, a Connecticut-based firm hired to monitor the asbestos work at the Salem project, to pay $60,000 and for one of its employees to be retrained in monitoring asbestos work. Blackstone will also pay $45,000 in penalties to the state.
AG Healey has made asbestos safety a priority, as part of the office’s “Healthy Buildings, Healthy Air” Initiative, announced in March 2017, which seeks to better protect the health of children, families, and workers in Massachusetts from health risks posed by asbestos. Since September 2016, the AG’s Office, with the assistance of MassDEP, has successfully brought asbestos enforcement cases that together have resulted in more than $2 million in civil penalties.
For more information on asbestos and asbestos-related work, visit MassDEP’s websiteoutlining asbestos construction and demolition notification requirements.
This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Peter C. Mulcahy, with the assistance of Senior Regional Counsel Colleen McConnell, Asbestos Enforcement Section Chief John MacAuley, and Environmental Analyst Grady Dante of MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington.
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre presents the North American premiere of The Rosenbergs (An Opera)
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre presents the North American premiere
of The Rosenbergs (An Opera)
BOSTON – Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (BPT) concludes its 2017-18 season with the presentation of a special event, the North American premiere of The Rosenbergs (An Opera), produced by Boston University and Brandeis University.
Running from April 12-22, the opera features a score by Joachim Holbek and a libretto by Rhea Leman. Dmitry Troyanovsky will direct, with musical direction by Cristi Catt.
This tragic love story—set during the United States’ Communist witch-hunt of the 1950s—is based on the lives of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed for atomic espionage. The Rosenbergs was recognized as Denmark’s Best Opera of 2015 by online journal Copenhagen Culture.
“The Rosenbergs is BPT’s first foray into opera, and I’m excited for this production for many reasons. First, the Rosenbergs’ papers are housed at the Howard Gotlieb Archives here at BU, so it makes perfect sense that we would want to support this award-winning opera,” Kate Snodgrass, Artistic Director of Boston Playwrights’ Theatre says. “Furthermore, this story couldn’t be more relevant to today’s political climate—we must remember our past in order to preserve our future. Rhea, our librettist, has been a friend of mine for years, and I wanted very much to support her work here in the States—both she and Joachim are experienced and gifted theatre artists. But the bottom line is…I love the story. It’s moving and alive without being overtly political, and it speaks to Ethel and Julius’s relationship—which is something that gets short-shrift when we think of this period in our nation’s history. Oftentimes when we read the newspapers, we forget that there are real people behind these big stories—people with dreams and loves and deep fears just like us. Whether we think of the Rosenbergs as heroes or traitors, in the end they were people living out a tragic love story.”
Composer Holbek and librettist Lehman have worked together as theatre and television producers for 35 years. Holbeck is best known for his film scores, most notably Lars von Trier’s Medea. He has composed music for more than 50 film and theater productions. Leman is an award-winning director and playwright (Gorilla); her plays have been performed throughout Europe and the U.S. The Rosenbergs is her first opera.
Director Troyanovsky’s recent area credits include Charlotte’s Web for American Repertory Theater and Exit the King with Actors’ Shakespeare Project. He directed Tchaikovsky’s Evgeny Onegin at Opera Idaho, conducted by Grammy nominee Sara Jobin. Music Director Catt has extensive international experience as a performer. In addition to credits as a music director and vocal coach both in the U.S. and abroad, she is the author of The Kinesthetic Singer: Lessons on Singing from Yoga and Basketball.
A post-show conversation with Snodgrass, Holbek, Leman, Troyanovsky, Catt and the cast will follow the April 14 performance. After the conclusion of The Rosenbergs’s run at BPT, the production will move to Brandeis University for three performances there.
AT A GLANCE:
The Rosenbergs (An Opera)
Music by Joachim Holbek
Libretto by Rhea Leman
Directed by Dmitry Troyanovsky
Musical Direction by Cristi Catt
April 12-22, 2018
Thurs. 7:30 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.
It’s 1953 Cold War USA, and Ethel and Julius Rosenberg have been accused of atomic espionage and sentenced to death. In this most famous spy case of the 20th century, and leading into the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) Senate hearings, the Rosenbergs’ love affair broke all bounds. Recognized as Denmark’s Best Opera of 2015, this tragic love story is adapted from the Rosenbergs’ letters from jail. As seen through the lens of the McCarthy witch hunts, echoes of which can still be heard today, it begs the question to all of us: “Would you die for love?”
A North American premiere co-produced by Boston University and Brandeis University, presented by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre.
The Rosenbergs is generously supported by the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies at Boston University, the Jewish Cultural Endowment at Boston University, the Brandeis Arts Council, the Boston University Center for the Humanities, and through an arts grant from the BU Arts Initiative—Office of the Provost.
Free to all students, faculty, and staff of Boston University and Brandeis University. Regular ticket prices: Adults ($30); Seniors-62+ ($25); Students with valid ID ($10)
Call 866.811.4111 or visit www.bostonplaywrights.org Additional dates at Brandeis University. For more information, visit www.go.brandeis.edu/productions.
星期日, 3月 25, 2018
波士頓榮光會慶農曆新春 (圖片)
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| 波士頓榮光會理事長石家孝(中)，秘書長蘇麗萍(右)敦請駐波士頓 經文處處長賴銘琪致詞。(周菊子攝) |
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| 左起，林海倫，陳世隆，劉成，市議員助理，波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪 ，波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)，榮光會理事長石家孝，僑教中心 主任歐宏偉，榮光會秘書長蘇麗萍，以及波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭 (右一)等人合影，(周菊子攝) |
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| 波士頓榮光會理事陳世隆(右)夫婦和蔣碧如(左)鎮守入場報到處。 (周菊子攝) |
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| 波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(前左三)，經文處新聞組副組長趙昌倫 (右一)與波士頓榮光會前會長周仙梅(前右四)，國民黨常委 張韻蘭(前左二)，榮光會秘書長蘇麗萍(前左一)等人合影。(周菊子攝) |
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| 陳余寶愛領唱美國國歌。(周菊子攝) |
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| 出席眾人在美國國歌演唱完畢時鼓掌。(周菊子攝) |
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| 馮台甲(左起)，蘇麗萍，曾兆漢等人領唱中華民國國歌。 (周菊子攝) |
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| 波士頓榮光會理事長石家孝致詞。(周菊子攝) |
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| 波士頓榮光會理事長石家孝(右)送出一塊繪有波士頓風景 的磁磚，給經文處處長賴銘琪，請她返台後記得榮光會。 (周菊子攝) |
聯邦參議員Warren奔走三地支持"March for Our Lives"
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星期六, 3月 24, 2018
第12屆新英格蘭台商盃保齡球賽 歷任會長捧場出席
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| 新英格蘭台商會保齡球賽合影。(台商會提供) |
(Boston Orange) 新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會3月18日在摩頓市Town Line Luxury Lanes舉辦第12屆新英格蘭盃保齡球賽，近60人出席。個人組男女冠軍，依序為David
Chin，許漱馨。團體組共14隊參賽，第一名為槌子隊(Hammer)的David Chin, Joe Chan and Keith Seto，積分1964。
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| 新英格蘭台灣商會副會長李苡惠(右起)，會長歐陽露， 前會長蔡坤喜和經文處處長賴銘琪，多屆冠軍蔡高進。 |
台商會自從前會長蔡坤喜強調重視家庭開始，老少咸宜的保齡球賽就成為該會主要聯誼活動之一。每年比賽時，歷任會長幾乎都會趕來參加。當天除現任會長歐陽露，副會長李苡惠之外，前會長有蔡坤喜，王本仁，林鳳池，許漱馨，蔡明機等五人到會，前任副會長也有張耀熙出席。
駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處和波士頓僑教中心更是台商會保齡球賽的基本支持者。經文處處長賴銘琪之外，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉全家總動員，讓會場增添不少家庭溫暖氣氛。
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| 經文處處長賴銘琪(左)，台商會會長歐陽露(右)頒獎 給女子組個人冠軍許漱馨(中)。(台商會提供) |
在歐陽露會長努力下，今年的比賽，有不少年輕人參賽，其中的暴風隊(Storm)，居然還有自己的隊服T恤。該隊隊員穿著隊服，一列排開時，煞有介事的簡直要讓人以為這是職業比賽了。
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| 經文處處長賴銘琪(左)，台商會會長歐陽露(右)頒獎 給男子組個人冠軍David Chin(中)。(台商會提供) |
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| 經文處處長賴銘琪(左)，台商會會長歐陽露(右)頒獎 給團體組冠軍槌子隊(中)。(台商會提供) |
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| 經文處處長賴銘琪(左)，台商會會長歐陽露(右)頒獎 給團體組第二名暴風隊(中)。(台商會提供) |
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| 經文處處長賴銘琪(右三)，台商會會長歐陽露(右)頒獎 給團體組第三名過來人隊的蔡高進(右四起)，王安宇， Willy Yan等人。(台商會提供) |
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