波士頓馬拉松5K邀請賽4/13舉行

World Class Fields Announced for B.A.A. 5K and B.A.A. Invitational Mile

Defending champions Buze Diriba and Hagos Gebrhiwet join American record holder Ben True to lead full slate of B.A.A. races on Saturday

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today announced an elite field of world class competitors for the 2019 B.A.A. 5K and B.A.A. Invitational Mile, to be held on Saturday, April 13, two days prior to the 2019 Boston Marathon^®. Defending champions Hagos Gebrhiwet and Buze Diriba, both of Ethiopia, return to defend their 2018 titles, as American record holder Ben True will look to earn his fifth B.A.A. 5K crown.

Following the B.A.A. 5K, milers from near and far will gather to take part in the B.A.A. Invitational Mile finishing at the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street. The B.A.A. Invitational Mile will also include Middle School 1K races and Scholastic Mile races featuring youth athletes from the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon course. 

A detailed start list and schedule of events for both the B.A.A. 5K and B.A.A. Invitational Mile can be found below.

B.A.A. 5K – SATURDAY, APRIL 13 | 8:00 a.m., Boston Common

Last year, Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet and Buze Diriba earned hard-fought victories after sprinting down Charles Street to win the B.A.A. 5K. Gebrhiwet fended off four-time winner Ben True and Boston’s own Tommy Curtin at the line, with all three recording the same finish time of 13:42. True and Curtin return with hopes of shuffling the standings; True set an American record of 13:20 en route to winning the 2017 B.A.A. 5K title. Gebrhiwet – an Olympic bronze medalist – has the fastest 5,000-meter time of the field at 12:45.82.

Among other men’s contenders are reigning B.A.A. Invitational Mile and U.S. Indoor 2 mile champion Drew Hunter; Falmouth Road Race winner Ben Flanagan; NCAA Cross Country champion Justyn Knight; and European Championships medalist Chris O’Hare. B.A.A. 10K champions Stephen Sambu and Gabriel Geay will toe the line as well.

On the women’s side, Diriba is looking to join Molly Huddle as the only three-time consecutive champion in B.A.A. 5K history. Last year, Diriba covered the 3.1-mile course through Boston’s Back Bay in 15:22, a mere second up on Fotyen Tesfay and two seconds ahead of Monicah Ngige. Diriba, Ngige, fourth place finisher Gotytom Gebreslase, and fifth placer Molly Seidel are the top returners from a year ago. Seidel, a four-time NCAA champion while at Notre Dame, will look to score a win in her home city. From Ethiopia is two-time world championships silver medalist Senbere Teferi, owning a lifetime best of 14:23.33 on the track. Also entered is Kim Conley, a two-time Olympian at 5,000 meters for the United States.

The B.A.A. High Performance team will be well represented on home turf with Jacob Thomson and Trevor Dunbar competing for the men, and Erika Kemp, Dana Giordano, Kaitlin Goodman, Elaina Tabb, and Katie Matthews racing for the women. Kemp is coming off a victory at the USA 15K Championships in Jacksonville in March.

The men’s event record for the B.A.A. 5K stands at 13:20, set by Ben True in 2017, while the women’s event record is 14:50 run by Molly Huddle in 2015.

This year’s B.A.A. 5K will also feature the largest and strongest wheelchair field in race history, bringing together national champions from around the world. Defending B.A.A. 5K champions Jose Argenes Jimenez Hernandez of Costa Rica and Vanessa de Souza of Brazil return, as does B.A.A. 10K winner and Massachusetts-native Katrina Gerhard. A full list of entrants can be found below.

B.A.A. 5K MEN’S ELITE FIELD

NAME	AGE	COUNTRY	ROAD 5K PB	TRACK 5000M PB
Hagos Gebrhiwet	24	Ethiopia	13:14	12:45.82
Ben True	33	USA/NH	13:20 (AR)	13:02.74
David Bett	26	Kenya	N/A	13:06.06
Stephen Sambu	30	Kenya	13:21	13:13.74 (Indoor)
Clement Langat	27	Kenya	13:41	13:15.81
Justyn Knight	22	Canada	N/A	13:17.51
Gabriel Geay	22	Tanzania	N/A	13:20.35
Ambrose Bore	23	Kenya	N/A	13:20.39
Tommy Curtin	25	USA/MA	13:42	13:23.11
Alfred Barkach	22	Kenya	N/A	13:25.30
Trevor Dunbar	27	USA/MA	13:55	13:26.27
Jacob Thomson	24	USA/MA	14:15	13:34.50
Willy Fink	25	USA/VA	14:07	13:39.05
Chris O’Hare	28	GBR	13:46	13:42.00
Ben Flanagan	24	Canada	13:57	13:48.58 (Indoor)
Scott Smith	32	USA/AZ	13:51	13:49.38
Drew Hunter	21	USA/CO	13:56	13:49.56

B.A.A. 5K WOMEN’S ELITE FIELD

NAME	AGE	COUNTRY	ROAD 5K PB	TRACK 5000M PB
Buze Diriba	25	Ethiopia	14:54	14:50.02
Senbere Teferi	23	Ethiopia	15:43	14:23.33
Gotytom Gebreslase	24	Ethiopia	15:17	14:57.33
Laura Thweatt	30	USA/CO	15:52	15:04.98
Ann Mwangi	30	Kenya	N/A	15:05.34
Kim Conley	33	USA/CA	15:29	15:08.61
Molly Seidel	24	USA/MA	15:33	15:15.21 (Indoor)
Kaitlin Goodman	31	USA/RI	16:01	15:29.89
Hawi Feysa	20	Ethiopia	N/A	15:31.50
Elaina Tabb	27	USA/MA	15:59	15:32.49
Katie Matthews	28	USA/MA	15:50	15:32.89
Mary Munanu	24	Kenya	16:04	15:36.74
Erika Kemp	24	USA/MA	15:50	15:41.23
Lindsey Scherf	32	USA/NY	16:10	15:42.81 (Indoor)
Dana Giordano	25	USA/MA	15:47	15:53.96
Monicah Ngige	25	Kenya	15:24	15:58.5

B.A.A. 5K MEN’S WHEELCHAIR FIELD

NAME	AGE	COUNTRY
Jose Argenes Jimenez Hernandez	36	Costa Rica
Joey Gibbs	22	USA/IL
Brendan Quinn	27	USA/IL
Tiaan Bosch	39	South Africa
Fidel Aguilar Zepeda	41	Mexico
Christian Clemmons	24	USA/IL
Tony Nogueira	51	USA/NJ
Johnboy Smith	29	Great Britain
Francisco Sanclemente	30	Colombia

B.A.A. 5K WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR FIELD

NAME	AGE	COUNTRY
Vanessa De Souza	29	Brazil
Katrina Gerhard	22	USA/IL
Michelle Wheeler	32	USA/PA
Eliza Ault-Connell	37	Australia
Margriet van den Broek	45	Netherlands
Jenna Fesemyer	22	USA/IL
Yen Hoang	22	USA/IL
Carla Trodella	37	USA/MA

B.A.A. 5K PRIZE STRUCTURE (Equal for both men and women)
PLACE	OPEN	MASTERS	WHEELCHAIR
1	$7,500	$300	$300
2	$4,000	$200	$200
3	$2,500	$100	$100
4	$1,500
5	$1,000
6	$750
7	$600
8	$400
9	$300
10	$200
GRAND TOTAL:  $39,900

B.A.A. INVITATIONAL MILE – SATURDAY, APRIL 13 | 10:30 a.m., Boylston Street

The B.A.A.’s signature unicorn uniform will also be racing in the B.A.A. Invitational Mile, where Mike Marsella and John Simons vie for the title. Simons placed second a year ago in 4:09. They will be joined on the line by German national champion Sam Parsons, world indoor championships finalist Julian Oakley, 3:54-miler Robert Domanic, and Eric Avila, who finished second at the U.S. Indoor National Championships in the two mile.

Ben Groleau, a native of Framingham and the course record holder for the B.A.A. Scholastic Mile, will race the B.A.A. Invitational Mile, becoming the first athlete to have competed in both levels of the event. Groleau won the B.A.A. Scholastic Mile twice while attending Framingham High School; this past January he broke the four-minute mile barrier by running 3:58.93.

The women’s B.A.A. Invitational Mile field is highlighted by Heather Kampf, a four-time USA road mile champion, and Shannon Osika, runner-up at last year’s event. Emily Lipari, 2018 national champion in the road mile, and Helen Schlachtenhaufen are also entered, along with former Arkansas Razorbacks Nikki Hiltz and Therese Haiss.

The men’s and women’s event records for the B.A.A. Invitational Mile are 4:03.3 (Nick Willis, 2013) and 4:33.7 (Nicole Sifuentes, 2017).

B.A.A. INVITATIONAL MILE MEN’S ELITE FIELD

NAME	AGE	COUNTRY	ROAD MILE PB	TRACK MILE PB
Robert Domanic	24	USA/VA	4:01	3:54.73
Eric Avila	29	USA/CA	3:56	3:55.43
Julian Oakley	25	NZL/RI	4:05	3:55.10 (Indoor)
James Randon	24	USA/MA	N/A	3:58.07 (Indoor)
Ben Groleau	25	USA/MA	N/A	3:58.93
John Simons	28	USA/MA	4:09	3:58.95
Mike Marsella	24	USA/MA	N/A	3:59.13 (Indoor)
Sam Parsons	24	Germany	3:58	3:59.70
Jeff Thies	25	USA/OR	4:14	3:59.89 (Indoor)

B.A.A. INVITATIONAL MILE WOMEN’S ELITE FIELD

NAME	AGE	COUNTRY	ROAD MILE PB	TRACK MILE PB
Shannon Osika	25	USA/MI	4:21	4:25:47
Heather Kampf	32	USA/MN	4:21	4:27.23
Helen Schlachtenhaufen	24	USA/MA	4:30	4:27.09
Emily Lipari	26	USA/WA	4:22	4:28.62
Nikki Hiltz	24	USA/CA	4:38	4:31.42 (Indoor)
Therese Haiss	23	USA/CA	4:39	4:34.54 (Indoor)
Emily Oren	25	USA/MI	4:37	4:35.48 (Indoor)
Ashley Stinson	25	USA/CO	4:36	4:35.62 (Indoor)

B.A.A. INVITATIONAL MILE PRIZE STRUCTURE (Equal for both men and women)

PLACE	OPEN
1	$3,000
2	$2,000
3	$1,500
4	$750
5	$500
GRAND TOTAL:  $14,500

B.A.A. YOUTH RACES – SATURDAY, APRIL 13 | 10:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m., Boylston Street

The B.A.A. Invitational Mile also features a quartet of scholastic races ranging from 1K to one mile. The first two races showcases middle school age students from the eight cities and towns of the Boston Marathon course – Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston. The girls’ and boys’ Middle School 1K races include runners between sixth and eighth grade and finish at the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street.   

  

Following the Middle School 1K races is the Scholastic Mile, which features girls’ and boys’ races for high school students from the eight cities and towns of the Boston Marathon course. The Scholastic Mile follows the same three-lap, USATF-certified course the professional mile athletes run, finishing at the Boston Marathon finish line.

Completing the day is the B.A.A. Relay Challenge, an event that brings more than 20 schools and 1,000 student-athletes from around Greater Boston together. For the 23^rdstraight year, the B.A.A. Relay Challenge introduces young people to the benefits of running, teamwork, and active lifestyles. The B.A.A. Relay Challenge is held on Boylston Street between Clarendon and Dartmouth Streets.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2019:  SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:00 a.m.         B.A.A. 5K, Boston Common

10:30 a.m.        Girls’ B.A.A. Middle School 1K, Boston Marathon Finish Line  

10:40 a.m.        Boys’ B.A.A. Middle School 1K, Boston Marathon Finish Line  

10:55 a.m.        Girls’ B.A.A. Scholastic Mile, Boston Marathon Finish Line  

11:05 a.m.        Boys’ B.A.A. Scholastic Mile, Boston Marathon Finish Line    

11:20 a.m.        Men’s B.A.A. Invitational Mile, Boston Marathon Finish Line    

11:30 a.m.        Women’s B.A.A. Invitational Mile, Boston Marathon Finish Line  

1:00 p.m.         B.A.A. Relay Challenge

THREE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AGREE TO PAY A TOTAL OF OVER $122 MILLION TO RESOLVE ALLEGATIONS THAT THEY PAID KICKBACKS THROUGH CO-PAY ASSISTANCE FOUNDATIONS

THREE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AGREE TO PAY A TOTAL OF OVER

$122 MILLION TO RESOLVE ALLEGATIONS THAT THEY PAID KICKBACKS

THROUGH CO-PAY ASSISTANCE FOUNDATIONS

BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that three pharmaceutical companies –Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Jazz), Lundbeck LLC (Lundbeck), and Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – have agreed to pay a total of $122.6 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to Medicare and Civilian Health and Medical Program (ChampVA) patients through purportedly independent charitable foundations. 

When a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare Part B or Part D, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible (collectively, co-pays). Similarly, under ChampVA, patients may be required to pay a co-pay for medications. Congress included co-pay requirements in these programs, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs, including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can set for their drugs. The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits pharmaceutical companies from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration – which includes money or any other thing of value – to induce Medicare or VA patients to purchase the companies’ drugs.   

“We are committed to ensuring that pharmaceutical companies do not use third-party foundations to pay kickbacks masking the high prices those companies charge for their drugs,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “This misconduct is widespread, and enforcement will continue until pharmaceutical companies stop circumventing the anti-kickback laws to artificially bolster high drug prices, all at the expense of American taxpayers.”

“Pharmaceutical companies undercut a key safeguard against rising drug costs when they create assistance funds to serve as conduits for the companies to subsidize the copays of their own drugs,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “These enforcement actions make clear that the government will hold accountable drug companies that directly or indirectly pay illegal kickbacks.”  

“These settlements demonstrate the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding the Medicare program and ensuring that patients receive treatment solely based on their medical needs,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. “Not only did these companies undermine a program that was set up to assist patients in decreasing the cost of their drugs, but they threatened the financial integrity of the Medicare program to which we all contribute and on which we all depend.”

“Kickback schemes undermine the integrity our nation’s healthcare system, including healthcare benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Sean Smith, VA Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office. “The VA Office of Inspector General, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue these investigations and exhaust all efforts to uncover these schemes.”

The government’s allegations in the three settlements announced today are as follows:

Jazz. Jazz sells Xyrem, a treatment for narcolepsy, and Prialt, a non-opioid treatment for management of severe chronic pain. The government alleges that, in 2011, Jazz asked a foundation to create a fund that would cover the co-pays of Xyrem patients. The foundation then created a fund that would ostensibly cover the co-pays of patients taking any narcolepsy drug, but that, through May 2014, almost exclusively assisted patients taking Xyrem. During this period, Jazz raised the price of Xyrem at over 24 times the rate of overall inflation in the United States. The government further alleges that Jazz asked the same foundation to create a fund that would purportedly cover the co-pays of patients taking any drug for severe chronic pain, but that, through May 2014, almost exclusively assisted patients taking Prialt. The foundation told Jazz that, when severe chronic pain patients seeking assistance with drugs other than Prialt contacted the foundation, the foundation would refer them elsewhere. Furthermore, as Jazz knew, the foundation did not advertise the severe chronic pain fund on its website, so that Jazz itself was the principal source referrals to the fund. Jazz has agreed to pay $57 million to resolve the government’s allegations.

Lundbeck. Lundbeck sells Xenaxine, a treatment for chorea associated with Huntington’s Disease. The government alleges that, beginning in 2011, Lundbeck donated millions of dollars to a foundation’s fund that, ostensibly, covered the co-pays of patients with Huntington’s Disease, but that, in fact, simply covered the co-pays of patients taking Xenazine, regardless of the condition the drug was being used to treat. After May 2014, when HHS-OIG published a document entitled “Supplemental Special Advisory Bulletin: Independent Charity Assistance Programs,” Lundbeck and the foundation agreed that the foundation would continue to pay the Xenazine co-pays for non-Huntington’s Disease patients out of a “general fund” that the foundation would use for this purpose. When Lundbeck asked the foundation whether there was a “risk” that HHS-OIG would not view this practice as compliant, the foundation replied, “[t]hey don’t know what we use the general fund for.” This conduct continued through 2016. During the period of the alleged misconduct, Lundbeck raised the price of Xenazine at over 22 times the rate of overall inflation in the United States. Lundbeck has agreed to pay $52.6 million to resolve the government’s allegations.

Jazz and Lundbeck each entered five-year corporate integrity agreements (CIAs) with OIG as part of their respective settlements. The CIAs require the companies to implement measures, controls, and monitoring designed to promote independence from any patient assistance programs to which they donate. In addition, the companies agreed to implement risk assessment programs and to obtain compliance-related certifications from company executives and Board members.

“These kickback schemes harm Medicare and the public,” said Gregory E. Demske, Chief Counsel to the Inspector General.  “OIG CIAs, such as those with Jazz and Lundbeck, are designed to reduce future risks to patients and taxpayer-funded programs.  OIG decided not to require a CIA with Alexion because it made sweeping and fundamental organizational changes following the bad conduct.  The changes included hiring a new eight-member executive leadership team and changing half of the members of its Board of Directors.  In addition, forty percent of Alexion’s employees are new and the company relocated its corporate headquarters.”

Alexion. Alexion sells Soliris, a drug that is approved to treat patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and to treat patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Soliris can cost over $500,000 per year. Alexion allegedly knew that the price it set for Soliris could pose a financial burden to patients. In January 2010, the government alleges, Alexion requested that a foundation create a “Complement-Mediated Disease” (“CMD”) fund. Over the next several months, Alexion and the foundation allegedly discussed the coverage parameters that Alexion desired for the fund, including Alexion’s desire that the fund “not support a patient with any of these [CMD] diagnoses for other reasons tha[n] Soliris therapy.” The government alleges that, after the fund opened, Alexion—the sole donor to the fund—understood that the fund’s provision of financial assistance to a patient was contingent on the patient taking Soliris. Alexion allegedly noted internally that it needed to be diligent in notifying the foundation if a patient had stopped taking Soliris so that Alexion’s donations would not be used on patients who were not starting or maintaining Soliris therapy.Alexion has agreed to pay $13 million to resolve the government’s allegations.

U.S. Attorney Lelling, Assistant Attorney General Hunt, HHS-OIG Chief Counsel Demske, FBI SAC Bonavolonta, and VA OIG SAC Sean Smith made the announcement today. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service also assisted with the investigation. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregg Shapiro and Abraham George, of Lelling’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, and by Trial Attorneys Augustine Ripa and Sarah Arni of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

文協國樂團4/27慶35週年公演

(Boston Orange)大波士頓中華文化協會(GBCCA)國樂團將於4 月27日（週六）晚上7:30，在1605 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, MA 02420, Battin Hall, Cary Memorial Building 舉行國樂年度公演。

該樂團今年慶祝三十五週年。將由陳志新指揮的這場音樂會，正由樂團積極排演中，曲目包括吹打樂《淘金令》;小組合奏《雪落下的聲音》，《奇跡》;大合奏《鬧新春》，《江南好》，《雪蓮花》，《台灣民謠幻想曲組曲》，《電視主題曲組曲》。表演節目豐富多樣。

音樂會憑票免費入場，索票請洽TungmeiPan@hotmail.com （六歲以下，謝絕入場）

波士頓華埠安全會議再談大麻店 (圖片)

四月份的華埠社區安全會議，出席者眾。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市長亞裔聯絡員徐丹晨報告五月四日波士頓
年度大掃除徵義工。(周菊子攝)

一名女子表示自己在波士頓華埠住了58年，最近
經常被深夜喧嘩困擾。(周菊子攝)

西山律師事務所的Greg Henning (左)和政府關係集團的
Joseph A. Cianniao (右)陪同大麻店Sanctuary執行長
Jason Sidman(中)出席華埠社區安全會議。(周菊子攝)

Ken Moriv在安全會議中陳情，指稱在學校樓宇附近開
大麻店，實在不適宜。(周菊子攝)

麻州長、昆士市長落髮 為波士頓兒童醫院籌款六百萬元

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker，左)拉著昆士市長柯奇
(Tom Koch)，先拍張落髮前合影。(周菊子攝)

           (Boston Orange 波士頓訊)麻州州長查理貝克連續第五年，參加大理石電信公司為波士頓兒童醫院關注癌症研究舉辦的年度"削髮存錢(Saving by Shaving)"籌款活動，他和昆，是市長柯奇，波士頓紅襪隊董事長Sam KennedyWGBH的Jim Braude，大理石電信公司執行長Rob Hale，紅襪隊前球手David Ortiz等許多名人一起，為慈善活動落髮。大理石電信公司宣佈，今年為波士頓兒童醫院籌款600萬元。

Governor Baker Participates in “Saving by Shaving” Event

BOSTON – For the fifth consecutive year, Governor Charlie Baker got a buzz-cut at Granite Telecommunication’s annual “Saving by Shaving” event to raise awareness for cancer research at Boston Children’s Hospital. He was joined by Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, Boston Red Sox President Sam Kennedy, WGBH’s Jim Braude, Granite Telecommunications CEO Rob Hale, Former Red Sox DH David Ortiz, Former Bruins Defenseman Ray Bourque, Patriots Offensive Lineman Ted Karras, Patriots Guard Joe Thuney, Former Patriots Guard Joe Andruzzi and Former Patriots Wide Receiver Troy Brown. At this year’s event, Granite Telecommunications announced an over $6 million contribution raised for Boston Children’s Hospital. (From the governor's office)

Granite Telecommunications, Quincy, MA

April 3, 2019 CLICK HERE TO WATCH

昆士市長Tom Koch為慈善落髮。(周菊子攝)

操刀為麻州州長查理貝克剪頭髮的是Annie Howan。旁邊
的理髮師是紅襪隊的前任一壘手David Ortiz。(周菊子攝)

昆士市長Tom Koch(中)落髮前，先拍張照，好做比較。
(周菊子攝)

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)進場時接受電台採訪。
(周菊子攝)

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker，右)和昆士市長柯奇
(Tom Koch，中)，在落髮前寒暄，說笑。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙客家鄉親和台商講座 蔡坤喜談生死 許炳煌說退休

新英格蘭台灣商會會長李以蕙(右一)，紐英崙客家鄉親會
會長宋玉琴(左一)和兩名講者，蔡坤喜醫師(左二)，
許炳煌。(周菊子攝)

                     (Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導)紐英倫客家鄉親會和新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會再度合作，3月30日舉辦講座，邀來蔡坤喜醫師談生死，許炳煌僑務顧問說退休，有聽眾因講者專程出席，不少人散場時欣然說確有收穫。

生死，退休講座出席者眾。(周菊子攝)

             蔡坤喜畢業於約翰霍普金斯大學，曾任新英格蘭針灸學院教授，1995年就出版過一本”針灸師手冊”，目前自己經營診所。他表示自己從醫45年，從當學生時解剖大體，當兵時擔任重傷組少尉醫官，曾三赴刑場簽死亡證書，再到做醫生迄今，實在見過太多生死，也格外覺得，坊間的談生論死，多半從哲理，宗教，玄學角度出發，什麼前世今生，靈魂出竅，都不是從醫學觀點來討論。

講座還出現站位。(周菊子攝)

             蔡坤喜說，確認一個人死了沒，一般有三個步驟，一是呼吸停止，二是心臟不跳，體溫急降，三是腦細胞停止運作，人失去了意識。整個過程，有時長達15分鐘。

             由於人在臨死前，還有意識與記憶力，多半會出現心裏雜亂不安現象，因而最好是讓平日與瀕死者互動良好的人，站在其視線可及之處，以幫助他順利地走完這一過程。

鄭雪卿(左起)，鄭玉春招呼中場提供點心。(周菊子攝)

             蔡坤喜還談出生，植物人，安樂死，往生的定義，直言人一旦患病，對病人自己，以及照顧病人的家屬，都會形成很大負擔，甚至壓力大到讓人無法承受。

             用自己的人生經歷來談生死之後，蔡坤喜建議有心養生者要注意四個步驟，要適度運動，懂得調節生活環境，飲食要三少一多，亦即少糖，少鹽，少油，多纖維，最後是要注意心理健康，保持快樂，不盲目比較，心態豁達，懂得過平淡生活。

許炳煌整理出有關退休的資訊，供人參考。(周菊子攝)

             許炳煌以他個人的生活經驗，以即廣閱博覽各種書籍整理出來的資料，”漫談退休生活，享受優質人生”。

             許炳煌要有心退休的人，先想想並計算一下，自己存夠了錢沒?基本上退休後，每年從存款中拿4%，可以以應付生活所需開支，最好別指望社會安全來做主要收入來源，以免出現拮据窘像。

許炳煌整理出有關退休的資訊，供人參考。(周菊子攝)

             他也從網上找了33歲就退休，5年就買20棟房子等真實故事來舉例，形容退休時最重要的是財務自由，有房產的人，甚至可以考慮辦反向貸款，來讓自己的手頭寬裕些。

             新英格蘭台灣商會的下一個活動是和青商會攜手，4月20日(週六)下午2點至4點，在哈佛大學波約斯頓廳馮禮堂(Boylston Hall, Fong Auditorium)舉辦講座，邀請哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院艾許民主治理及創新中心的資深學者韋傑夫(Jeffrey R. Williams)談”中國特色的企業治理”。會員及學生免費，非會員入場10元。報名或購票可上網https://www.eventbrite.com/e/corporate-governance-with-chinese-characteristics-tickets-58679752720#tickets。(圖片已於3月30日發表)