波士頓同源會第三屆喬治霍爾獎 表揚四人

得獎人與嘉賓，學生合影。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓同源會(CACA Boston)在9月23日晚，假帝苑大酒樓舉辦第三屆「喬治霍爾(George F. Hoar)參議員及新英格蘭精神獎」，表揚四名政界及社區人士，鼓勵華人重視歷史，爭取權益，積極參政。

刻正競選羅德島州長的馮偉傑(左二)頒獎給康州參議員黃濤(中)。左一
為麻州眾議員Keiko Orall，右二維波士頓同源會會長譚颯雯(右二)。
(周菊子攝)

喬治霍爾是麻州康可鎮人，美國開國英雄之一Roger Sherman的外孫。1902年美國國會討論排華法案時，他是77人中唯一投反對票的參議員。波士頓同源會因而以他的名義設立獎項。

今年的獲獎人士分別為康州參議員黃濤(Tony Hwang)，曾任美國駐梵蒂岡大使的前波士頓市長雷夫連(Ray Flynn)，前牛頓市議員馬惠美、甫退休的塔芙茨大學政府及社區關係部主任盧貝(Barbara Rubel )。

波士頓市議員愛德華費林(左一)，波士頓前市長雷夫連(Ray Flynn)
兩父子，頒表揚狀給退休將官陳紹章(左二)。(周菊子攝)

應邀頂替聯邦眾議員劉雲平，擔任當晚主講人的是已退休美國首名華裔二星將官陳紹章(William S. Chen)。他藉詢問在場眾人有誰的祖輩當過鐵路工人，參加過二次世界大戰等問題指出，華人對美國的今日成就曾有許多貢獻，卻從未受到肯定。

2016年12月，曾參加二次世界大戰的菲律賓退伍軍人獲得了國會金章獎(Congressional Gold Medal)，但推動頒發這國會金章獎給二次世界大戰華裔退伍軍人的法案，卻還在努力中。美國聯邦參議院經亞裔參議員Tammy Duckworth努力，甫於2018年9月12日通過，但在聯邦眾議院部分還差103名議員聯署。

父親在二次世界大戰中是飛虎隊成員之一的陳紹章指出，如果華人們都努力催促各自選區議員支持，在年底前通過此案，今年十二月的紀念”排華法案”廢除75週年，就更有意義了。

波士頓同源會強調教育，文化的重要，邀相關人上上台。(周菊子攝)

            在台灣高雄出生，九歲移民來美的黃濤，當晚從羅德島州首名華裔市長，現在競選州長的馮偉傑手中接過獎座。他以喬治霍爾為引，強調美國是移民國家，各人的語言、文化背景不論差異多大，來到美國，就一樣都是美國人。他稱許雷夫連為民服務，不分黨派，堪為楷模，希望座中學子效法。

            波士頓同源會會長譚颯雯特地在會中指出，該會刻正針對青少籌辦項目，培訓他們的領導力，以及對中華傳統文化的認識與理解。

同源會全國論文比賽的波士頓優勝者，刻在波士頓大學就讀的黃曉琳，北牛頓高中的袁嘉熙，也在當晚領獎，依序各得獎金1000元，700元。

波士頓同源會董事們。(周菊子攝)

波士頓華埠土地信託會爭取公地優先建可負擔住宅

右起，駱理德，梅清焉，劉仲岳，鄭繼良等董事主持會議。(周菊子攝)

                         (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)波士頓華埠社區土地信託會9月26日晚在信義大廈社區室舉行年會，報告三地段概況，說明爭取社區公共土地控制權，呼籲政府制定政策，公地用途優先考慮可負擔住宅，保留排屋，延續移民歷史記憶。

               華埠土地信託會當晚表示，該會去年成就之一是促使波士頓市政府通過了Airb&b等房屋短期租貸辦法，規定波士頓市內住宅，必須有屋主自住，才可短期出租，避免資本家以高價購買華埠屋宇，供短期出租，逼走華埠中低收入居民。

李素影現為華埠土地信託會會長。(周菊子攝)

               波士頓的華埠社區土地信託會是由一群關心華埠未來命運的熱心人士所建立，現有8名董事，一名主任。根據年會提供給出席者的年度報告，在2018會計年度內，該會的財政收入為50,575元，其中包括3萬元補助款，2萬元個別人士捐款。支出共37,395元，包括人事費用34,415元，辦公室1000元，會議及外展活動777元等。

出席會議者為做討論。(周菊子攝)

               該會的董事會，現由信義大廈居民，前昆士小學校長李素影擔任會長。其他幹部包括共同主席，華埠居民Jeffrey Hovis，書記，建築師鄭繼良，財政，堡壘村居民聯誼會主席梅清焉，以及社區歷史學者劉仲岳，大同村居民黃國威，髮廊業主Earnie Leung，乞臣街居民Arturo Gossage。前華人前進會行政主任駱理德，現為土地信託會主任。

               這場年會，主要由李素影，梅清焉，駱理德，鄭繼良，劉仲岳做說明，匯報該會從全市和社區層面角度出發，致力爭取公家土地由社區擁有及控制。他們主張優先建造永久性的可負擔住宅，正推動波士頓市府的鄰里發展局，以及市議員們訂定相關條例。

               他們的年度報告，分別就R1，12，以及黃述沾公園等3個地段，做了闡述。

會場。(周菊子攝)

               RI地段是在泰勒街上，現由塔芙茨大學用做停車場的一塊空地。華埠土地信託會正與麻省理工學院城市研究部學生合作，預定邀居民參與，研究如何把這塊地列入華埠整體規劃，轉由社區擁有或控制。

               12號地段是波士頓市府擁有，座落在雙樹酒店後面的一塊土地。亞美社區發展協會(ACDC)和千禧年合作夥伴，塔芙茨大學曾攜手提出一個土地發展案，打算建造一棟有171個單位，附有8000平方呎華埠圖書館的大樓。不過，華埠土地信託會強調須設法保持這些單位的可負擔性，也呼籲圖書館面積應擴大為15000平方呎。此案目前仍由相關單位研議中。

               黃述沾公園原名寶塔公園，座落在波士頓華埠和皮革區邊界的尼倫街(Kneeland)上，所有權歸麻州政府。華埠土地信託會與塔芙茨大學合作，還邀請居民參加的研討了如何改善公園設計，並提出長短期建議。

               在會中，華埠土地信託會強調，波士頓華埠曾是勞工，移民聚居地，排屋是該一歷史的象徵，希望能設法把這些排屋保留為永久性的可負擔住宅。

                           華人前進會行政主任陳秀珍，波士頓市議員愛德華費林的助手，當晚都出席了會議。(圖片已於27日發表，20200926更新標題)

2019 Boston Marathon® Qualifier Acceptances

2019 Boston Marathon® Qualifier Acceptances

Adjustments to Future Boston Marathon Qualifying Standards Also Announced

BOSTON - The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today continued its notification to applicants of their acceptance into the 2019 Boston Marathon®. In preparation for the 2019 Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. implemented the same registration process for qualified runners as it used in the 2012 through 2018 Boston Marathons, allowing the fastest qualifiers to register first. The 123rd Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 15, 2019 and will mark the 34th consecutive year that the event will have John Hancock as its principal sponsor.

Qualifiers who were four minutes, 52 seconds (4:52) or faster than the qualifying time for their age group and gender have been accepted into the 2019 Boston Marathon. A total of 23,074 qualified applicants have been accepted to date or are in the process of being accepted, pending verification of their qualifying performance.

A total of 30,458 applications were received during the registration time period for qualifiers, a significant increase from recent years. With the increase in applications received, 7,384 qualifiers were unable to be accepted due to field size limitations. In cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route, the B.A.A. has set the field size for the 2019 Boston Marathon at 30,000 official entrants.

More than 80% of the 2019 Boston Marathon field will be comprised of athletes who have met the qualifying standards. The balance will consist of invitational entrants, including runners participating as part of the Boston Marathon’s Official Charity Program and John Hancock’s Non-Profit Program, as well as invited elite athletes. Participants who ran on behalf of more than 260 non-profit organizations raised $36.6 million for charity at the 2018 Boston Marathon.

After thoroughly reviewing this year’s applications, and comparing this year’s submission data to trends seen in the past five years, the B.A.A. also today announced adjusted qualifying standards for all age groups looking ahead to the 2020 Boston Marathon. This data-informed assessment and decision factors in the increase of faster times run by Boston Marathon qualifiers; the number of applicants within each age division and gender; and the annual number of applications received since 2014. Qualifying standards will be five minutes faster for all age groups, starting with the 2020 Boston Marathon.

“For countless runners, participating in and completing the Boston Marathon is a life-long athletic goal. We look forward to welcoming 30,000 participants from across the globe to the 123rd running of the Boston Marathon next April,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Chief Executive Officer. “The B.A.A. has worked hard to ensure an equitable and fair process for gaining entry into the Boston Marathon. Due to the unprecedented support and interest in being part of next year’s race, the B.A.A. unfortunately is unable to accept all deserving participants who achieved hard-earned qualifying times. We thank them for their running efforts and desire to run with us.”

Grilk continued: “We have adjusted the qualifying standards for the 2020 Boston Marathon, as the number of marathoners who have submitted applications to run the Boston Marathon has increased significantly during the most recent two registration years. We forecast the interest in running Boston as continuing. We know that the running community pays close attention to our qualifying times for their age group because they are important factors in their training, racing and race selection. As such, for the 2020 Boston Marathon, adjustments to all age group qualifying standards will be five minutes (5:00) faster than previous standards.”

Since 1970, the Boston Marathon has featured qualifying standards as a means of entry. The last time the B.A.A. updated qualifying standards was for the 2013 race, when all qualifying times regardless of age and gender were lowered by five minutes. A breakdown of adjusted Boston Marathon qualifying standards can be found below.

Registration for runners who met the B.A.A.’s Qualifying Standards for the 2019 Boston Marathon began on Monday, September 10 using a “rolling admission” schedule and continued through Saturday, September 15. Registration re-opened on Monday, September 17 and application submissions were received through Wednesday, September 19. Registration for the Boston Marathon is not first-come, first-served, but rather allows for a more systematic and orderly application procedure with the fastest qualifiers of those who submitted entries accepted.

• 30,458 applications were received during the registration period for qualifiers.
• 23,074 qualified applicants have been accepted to date or are in the process of being accepted, pending verification of their qualifying performance.
• 7,384 applicants were unable to be accepted due to the large number of eligible qualifiers who submitted an application for entry combined with field size limitations.
• This year’s ‘Cut-Off’ time needed to gain entry into the Boston Marathon was 4 minutes, 52 seconds or faster than the qualifying time for each respective age group and gender.

During the registration period, the breakdown of accepted Qualifiers was as follows:

• 5,256 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 20 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
• 8,620 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 10 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
• 8,545 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 05 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
• 220 Qualifiers met their qualifying time by 4 minutes, 52 seconds or faster.
• 433 Qualifiers were accepted based on finishing 10 or more consecutive Boston Marathons.
• 270 Qualified Athletes with Disabilities have been accepted, or are expected to be accepted, through the conclusion of the Athletes with Disabilities registration period.

Qualifying performances for the 2019 Boston Marathon must have been run between September 16, 2017 and September 19, 2018. Notices to those accepted will be issued by the B.A.A via e-mail.

For reference, qualifiers needed to be three minutes, 23 seconds or faster than their age group and gender for the 2018 Boston Marathon; two minutes, nine seconds or faster for the 2017 Boston Marathon; two minutes, 28 seconds or faster for the 2016 Boston Marathon; one minute, two seconds or faster for the 2015 Boston Marathon; and one minute, 38 seconds or faster for the 2014 Boston Marathon. A history of Boston Marathon qualifying standards and cut-off times can be found here. Notices to those who submitted an application for entry but who were not accepted were also issued today.

2019 BOSTON MARATHON: Men’s Qualifying Standards and Accepted Times*

AGE GROUP	QUALIFYING STANDARD	QUALIFICATION TIMES ACCEPTED (faster than and including)
18-34	3hrs 05min 00sec	3hrs 00min 08sec
35-39	3hrs 10min 00sec	3hrs 05min 08sec
40-44	3hrs 15min 00sec	3hrs 10min 08sec
45-49	3hrs 25min 00sec	3hrs 20min 08sec
50-54	3hrs 30min 00sec	3hrs 25min 08sec
55-59	3hrs 40min 00sec	3hrs 35min 08sec
60-64	3hrs 55min 00sec	3hrs 50min 08sec
65-69	4hrs 10min 00sec	4hrs 05min 08sec
70-74	4hrs 25min 00sec	4hrs 20min 08sec
75-79	4hrs 40min 00sec	4hrs 35min 08sec
80 and older	4hrs 55min 00sec	4hrs 50min 08sec

2019 BOSTON MARATHON: Women’s Qualifying Standards and Accepted Times*

AGE GROUP	QUALIFYING STANDARD	QUALIFICATION TIMES ACCEPTED (faster than and including)
18-34	3hrs 35min 00sec	3hrs 30min 08sec
35-39	3hrs 40min 00sec	3hrs 35min 08sec
40-44	3hrs 45min 00sec	3hrs 40min 08sec
45-49	3hrs 55min 00sec	3hrs 50min 08sec
50-54	4hrs 00min 00sec	3hrs 55min 08sec
55-59	4hrs 10min 00sec	4hrs 05min 08sec
60-64	4hrs 25min 00sec	4hrs 20min 08sec
65-69	4hrs 40min 00sec	4hrs 35min 08sec
70-74	4hrs 55min 00sec	4hrs 50min 08sec
75-79	5hrs 10min 00sec	5hrs 05min 08sec
80 and older	5hrs 25min 00sec	5hrs 20min 08sec

* Qualified entrants for the 2019 Boston Marathon must have met the designated time standard that corresponds with their age group and gender in a certified marathon on or after September 16, 2017. Proof of qualification must accompany each athlete's application, and participants are required to be 18 years or older on Boston Marathon race day.

2020 BOSTON MARATHON: Updated Men’s and Women’s Qualifying Standards

AGE GROUP	MEN’S QUALIFYING STANDARDS	WOMEN’S QUALIFYING STANDARDS
18-34	3hrs 00min 00sec	3hrs 30min 00sec
35-39	3hrs 05min 00sec	3hrs 35min 00sec
40-44	3hrs 10min 00sec	3hrs 40min 00sec
45-49	3hrs 20min 00sec	3hrs 50min 00sec
50-54	3hrs 25min 00sec	3hrs 55min 00sec
55-59	3hrs 35min 00sec	4hrs 05min 00sec
60-64	3hrs 50min 00sec	4hrs 20min 00sec
65-69	4hrs 05min 00sec	4hrs 35min 00sec
70-74	4hrs 20min 00sec	4hrs 50min 00sec
75-79	4hrs 35min 00sec	5hrs 05min 00sec
80 and older	4hrs 50min 00sec	5hrs 20min 00sec

The qualifying window for the 2020 Boston Marathon began on Saturday, September 15, 2018, and will continue through the conclusion of 2020 Boston Marathon registration next fall. Registration dates for the 2020 Boston Marathon will be announced next year. Please note that the new qualifying standards do apply to valid marathon times run at races between September 15, 2018 and this announcement.

Department of Public Utilities Issues Order Focusing on Safety, Announcing Energy Rates

Department of Public Utilities Issues Order Focusing on Safety,

Announcing Energy Rates

After Public Process, Department Reduces Rates Initially Requested

BOSTON – September 28, 2018 – The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) today issued a final Order that will enhance pipeline safety, require accountability, upgrade information system platforms, and improve customer service while reducing the total rate increase request of Boston Gas Company and Colonial Gas Company, together doing business as National Grid by over $97 million annually. The action by the DPU follows a ten month investigation that included seven public hearings across National Grid’s service territory, twelve days of evidentiary hearings, and a review of more than a thousand exhibits. National Grid provides gas service to approximately 908,000 customers in 116 cities and towns in the Commonwealth.

In issuing the Order, DPU reduced Boston Gas’ revenue request by approximately $78 million – decreasing Boston Gas’ requested increase of $178 million by 43%. Under the company’s proposal, a typical Boston Gas residential heating customer would have experienced an annual bill increase of $178.81, or 16%.  After the Department’s Order, a typical residential heating customer will experience an annual bill increase of $88.22, or 8%. The Order reduces Colonial Gas’ base revenue request by $19 million — decreasing Colonial Gas’ requested increase of $36.6 million by approximately 52%.  Similarly, under the company’s proposal, a typical Colonial Gas residential heating customer would have experienced an annual bill increase of $123.15, or 13%.  After the Department’s Order, a typical residential heating customer will experience an annual bill increase of $38.31, or 4%. 

As part of these revenue reductions, the Order found that both Boston Gas and Colonial Gas, under National Grid’s management, had shown persistent disregard for federal and state pipeline safety regulations to the detriment of the Companies’ ratepayers, and, as a result, the DPU reduced National Grid’s proposed 10.5% return on equity to 9.5%.  This change decreased the rates that National Grid had requested by approximately $15 million annually. Today’s decision marks the first time that Boston Gas’ gas base distribution rates have changed since 2010, and the first time that Colonial Gas’ gas base distribution rates have changed since 2010.

“By significantly reducing the rate increases proposed by National Grid, the Order issued by the Department of Public Utilities will enhance safe and reliable natural gas service for ratepayers across the Commonwealth while minimizing financial impacts on customers,” said Department of Public Utilities Chair Angela O’Connor. “Additionally, the Order requires National Grid to pursue important investments in information systems platforms and builds upon the Department’s announcement of their intent to hire an Independent Evaluator to assess, out of an abundance of caution, the safety of pipeline infrastructure throughout the Commonwealth.”

In addition, the Order notes that, out of an abundance of caution, the DPU recentlyannounced their intent to hire an independent evaluator to conduct a statewide examination of the safety of the natural gas distribution system within the Commonwealth. The DPU’s Pipeline Engineering and Safety Division also has multiple ongoing investigations into National Grid’s safety practices.  As part of those investigations there is today a request for information regarding staffing, costs, and the services that National Grid has provided during the company’s current labor lockout compared to the same period in previous years.

The new rates contained within the Order will go into effect November 1, 2018.