Baker-Polito Administration Files Unemployment Legislation To Extend Benefits To Relocating Military Spouses

Baker-Polito Administration Files Unemployment Legislation To Extend Benefits To Relocating Military Spouses

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today filed legislation that would extend unemployment benefits to the spouses of servicemembers who are forced to leave their jobs due to military relocation. Under current law, when military families are reassigned to areas outside of Massachusetts, military spouses are not eligible for unemployment insurance because they are considered to have left their job by their own choice. The legislation filed today corrects this portion of the unemployment statute and makes several other changes to state law that update and modernize the Unemployment Insurance program.

“When servicemembers are forced to relocate in order to serve their country, spouses of those soldiers shouldn’t be denied benefits for choosing to keep their families intact,” said Governor Charlie Baker. "This legislation corrects state law to ensure these spouses are no longer penalized for their family’s service, and makes other important changes to modernize the unemployment statute.”

“Military families make profound sacrifices for our country and Commonwealth, and we need to ensure our unemployment system does not deny them benefits when they are forced to move,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are proud to file this bill that will fix this problem and ensure the unemployment statute meets the needs of the workers and employers of today’s economy.”

The proposed exception applies only to active-duty members of the military. In addition to the extension of unemployment insurance benefits to military spouses, the legislation would also make other changes, including expanding the Department of Unemployment Assistance's ability to recoup fraudulently claimed benefits and clarifying that prison work-release programs are not means for qualifying for unemployment insurance upon release.

“This legislation will help create fairness for our hard-working military families, make important changes to the unemployment statute that will save taxpayer dollars, and make the system more effective at serving Massachusetts’ workers and employers,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta.

The Department of Unemployment Assistance, operated under the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, is responsible for managing the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, which provides temporary income to Massachusetts workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and are able, available, and actively looking for work.

Click here to read An Act to Support Military Families and Unemployment Transformations

波士頓首次推出台灣藝術季 11月13日起哈佛大學展出

(Boston Orange)一群來自不同領域的年輕創作人，籌備數月後，將於11月13日至22日在哈佛大學史密斯中心(Smith Center)，推出首次的波士頓台灣藝術季，藉由6名藝術創作者和劍橋合唱團的作品展示與演出，讓更多人體會台灣文化的多元與包容。

這首場波士頓台灣藝術季是由哈佛大學前任台灣學生會會長藍凡耘出任藝術季總召， 鍾宇善任執行秘書，施博堯，鄭乃慈任策展及展場設計，將以”揭幕(Reveal)”為主題，在11月13日至22日的每日早上11點至下午7點，在哈佛大學史密斯中心(Arts Wing, Richard A. & Susan F. Smith Campus Center)2樓，安排展出甘泓儒，施博堯，涂豐恩，劉家樑，王其萱，林佑學等人的建築設計，繪畫，攝影，古物等不同作品。

11月16日中午至下午6點半舉行”波士頓台灣藝術季”開幕式，將先請劍橋合唱團快閃合唱，接著邀請藝術家做深度訪談，再放映林佑學的”垃圾山水”短片。

            藍凡耘等主要策畫者表示，這次的展覽以”揭幕”為主題，代表著藝術家希望藉由看來毫不相關，卻又都連結到台灣這島嶼特性的各式作品，展現台灣文化的多樣性。這次的展場空間也藉由置入台灣人熟悉的台灣在地城市元素-鐵皮浪板，作為串聯起不同作品的媒介，同時藉由透明浪板的通透性，為展出各個藝術家作品的不同展區，搭起若有似無的聯繫，還透過不同角度折彎的模組化規矩展架，來傳達浪板之下的台灣藝術及文化。

            查詢首場波士頓台灣藝術季詳情，可上臉書https://www.facebook.com/events/377213916500075。

波士頓僑教中心辦研習班 培訓在地民俗文化教師

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右三)和路永宜(右二)，林賢琪(右四)及
學員們合影。(僑教中心提供)

            (Boston Orange)波士頓僑教中心為培養在地民俗文化教師，11月2日舉辦研習班，邀得林賢琪、路永宜2位老師，傳授初級國畫與民俗舞蹈。20餘名老師上課，咸表獲益良多。

林賢琪教國畫。(僑教中心提供)

僑委會為因應海外需求漸多，師資不足狀況，近年積極推動”海外民俗文化教師在地培訓”活動。今年這民國108年，波士頓部分由僑教中心主任歐宏偉策畫，邀得今年暑期回台受訓的林賢琪，路永宜開設初級國畫和民俗舞蹈課程，既分享她倆的教學經驗，也傾囊相授她們這趟回台的學習成果。

在培訓課程中，林賢琪以水墨畫中的「蘭」為主題，闡釋如何把四君子之一的「蘭」帶入文化課。她指出，一筆勾勒蘭葉造型，是國畫功底訓練的最基本課程。她希望文化老師多練習，並以深入淺出的方式來教學生。

路永宜從DIY舞蹈道具開始教，接著基本舞步、隊形變換的，一個下午就教完一支喜氣洋洋「迎春花」舞蹈。參訓老師們紛紛表示獲益良多。

路永宜教民俗舞蹈。(僑教中心提供)

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉表示，民俗文化種子教師培訓班開辦以來，與時俱進，不斷調整課程內容，經過各方努力，如今已能看到結訓的文化教師，在時令節慶等活動、課堂，以及夏令營等各種場合，發揮民俗文化影響力，為培訓活動成果之豐碩做見證。他希望各個教師在習得技能後，能投入更多的實際民俗教學活動中，讓種子生根發芽，嘉惠青年學生，並傳揚我國多元優質文化。

中華多媒體協會邀鍾倫納談作詩

(Boston Orange)中華多媒體協會將於11月30日(週六)下午2到5點，在波士頓中華廣教學校(90 Tyler St., 的中華公所對面)，舉辦中國歷史文化講座。鍾倫納博士將講談”怎樣寫出自己最喜歡的詩”。

講座內容包括探討施作的意和體，體制，意涵，構思及是自我欣賞或與人分享等。查詢可洽鍾應泰774-365-2225。

鍾倫納博士將於講座同日正午十二時在中國城新月宮與新舊朋友交流，餐飲費用由參加者自付，歡迎參加。

波士頓僑教中心辦青少年工研習營 傳承中華文化

僑教中心歐宏偉主任(右二) 、張君芳老師(右一)及學員介紹臺灣

傳統慶生習俗。(僑教中心提供)

(Boston Orange)波士頓僑教中心推動傳承，11月2日在中心舉辦青少年文化志工秋季研習課程，邀得諮詢導師張君芳帶青少年認識台灣傳統文化，動手習作。

張君芳先藉由體驗抓周，製作臺灣傳統點心紅龜粿等活動，讓在美國出生、長大的華裔青少年，認識中國傳統的慶生習俗，接著再讓青少年學員們分組，設計、製作海報，上台做成果簡報，藉以訓練青少年們的動手能力與演講技巧。

學員展示學習成果。(僑教中心提供)

                   張君芳目前在Wayland中學任教。她表示，現在的學生都很會用Power Point做數位簡報，但做真的大尺寸海報時，往往缺乏實體海報應有的溫度與熱情，她在帶領學生製作傳統海報時，強調海報的立體美感，更能加強主題內容的呈現，也藉由督促學生們從靜態的收集資料到動態的製作海報，對台灣的傳統文化習俗，能有更深的認識。

            僑教中心主任歐宏偉表示，這次的培訓，成果豐富，從學員們做簡報時的流暢，就知道經由這一研習課程，他們對台灣文化有了更深入的了解與認同。歐宏偉希望青少年學員們多參加社區及僑社的活動，幫助台灣以軟實力來推展公民外交，讓更多主流社會人士認識台灣。

吳弭、梁秀婷，Koch， Christenson都連任 吳弭未來選市長呼聲高

(Boston Orange整理報導)麻州今年的市級大選落幕，各地投票率都不高，結果也並不令人意外。華裔民代，波士頓市不分區市議員吳弭(Michelle Wu)，昆士市不分區市議員梁秀婷(Nina Liang)都順利連任。在今年選舉中較為特別的是，由於華裔楊安澤(Andrew Yang)參選美國總統的帶動，更多華裔選民開始關心美國政治，今年甚至出現波士頓市華裔選民投票微信群。

波士頓市的選舉結果，不分區市議員席位有4，今年34歲的吳弭以第一高票當選連任，得票數41,616，得票率, 20.71 %。另外兩名競選連任的在位者，艾妮莎(Annissa Essaibi George)，得票數34,054，得票率16.95%，米高法拉提(Michael Flaherty)，得票數33,242，得票率16.54%。

打敗競爭對手，爭取到第4席波士頓市不分區市議員席位的是Julia Mejia，得票數 22,464，得票率11.18%。

辭去波士頓市移民進步辦公室主任一職參選的古倫(Alejandra Nicole St. Guillen)，得票數22,454，得票率也是11.18%。由於她的得票數和Julia Mejia只差10票，一度發表退讓宣言的古倫，後來要求重新算票。

吳弭在慶祝當選的聚會中，先向支持者說，今年的當選人中有第一次參選者，有還在工作中的母親，象徵著波士頓政治走入新時代，接著再”劍指"麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，美國總統川普(Donald Trump)，聲稱諸如交通，氣候變化等議題，已落在市政府的肩膀上，有待具特別魔力的市政府來帶動需要的改變。

由於今年的選舉，波士頓市選民只有66,884人出席投票，意味著吳弭在當選第三度連任時，有62.2%的出席投票者支持她，得票率之高，引起更多人臆測，2021年時，她會挑戰波士頓市長寶座。

在分區市議員選舉中，住在海德公園，來自政治世家，父親及哥哥都曾擔任波士頓市議員的李察阿洛約(Richard Arroyo)，以5325票，約54.54%的得票率當選，成為第五區首名有色人種市議員。

轄區包括華埠的第二區市議員，因為無人挑戰，現任市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)同額當選連任。第1，3，6區的在位分區市議員也都在無人挑戰下同額當選連任。

今年的大選，各地選民的出席投票率，都不高。波士頓市不到20%，有 31個投票站的昆士市約24%，摩頓市也只有XXX。

在這次大選之後，波士頓市的市議會，首次出現少數族裔，女性佔多數局面，意識形態變得比較左傾。

在昆士市，市長柯奇(Tom Koch)以9377票，69%的得票率當選連任，可再做4年市長，梁秀婷，Anne Mahoney和Noel DiBona等3名在位的不分區市議員都順利連任，得票數依序為8375, 8688, 9675。

在摩頓市(Malden)，摩頓市長葛帝生(Gary Christenson)以5062票當選連任，打敗了得3482票的對手John Matheson。第七區學校委員會由Michelle Luong以512票當選。

華埠一餐廳有顧客凌晨持槍爭吵

(Boston Orange 編譯) 11月2日(週六)早上，波士頓華埠餐廳發生顧客爭吵，有人掏槍事件。警察趕抵現場後，一名女子試圖藏槍。這一男一女隨後被捕。

新月宮海鮮餐廳位於愛丁保羅街15-19號。該店一名員工在凌晨3點時，通知一名就在附近的警察，有數名顧客在店內爭吵。

警察局在聲明中表示，據悉，40歲，住在查理士城的Caesar Calderon一邊伸手去拿褲袋裡的槍，一邊威脅店內另一人。

警察搜查Calderon時，沒找到槍，但注意到37歲，住在龍都鎮(Randolph)，坐在Calderon那一桌的Melicius Dacius，放在桌子下，一眼掃過去看不到的腿上，似乎有件夾克包住個不明物體。

警察說，當警察要Sacius站起來時，她把自己從桌邊推開，竟坐在椅子上的向後跌倒了，於是一把裝了子彈的.38口徑Smith & Wesson左輪手槍掉了出來。

該聲明表示，警察後來知道，在警察接近時，Calderon把槍交給了Dacius。

後來警察檢視了保安視頻，看到Calderin在爭論中用槍威脅一名男子。

Calderon被控非法持槍，非法持有槍彈，攜帶裝了子彈的武器，用危險武器攻擊等罪名。Dacius則被控在以危險武器攻擊的事實發生後，做輔助者。

警察並未說明哪天會在波士頓地方法院起訴他們。

紐英崙中華公所40人訪問團抵台灣 上金門體驗炮戰

紐英崙中華公所訪問團和呂元融合影。(僑教中心提供)

紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊率40人訪問團，於10月28日飛抵台灣參訪，拜會僑委會，外交部等相關部會，謁見中華民國副總統陳建仁，僑委會委員長吳新興，副委員長呂元榮等人，從而了解台灣的政經發展，文化環境。

呂元榮在晤見訪問團時表示，紐英崙中華公所自1923年成立以來，一直十分的支持中華民國，在有需要時，總能挺身而出，令人感念。他強調，政府重視海外僑胞，憲法也明訂有僑務政策，凡支持中華民國的僑胞，都是僑委會的服務對象。

紐英崙中華公所訪問團在金門留影。(中華公所提供)

                         紐英崙中華公所訪問團此行，除拜會機構，還參訪忠烈祠等文化景點，甚至去了金門，團員們對所聞所見，都感印象深刻。

全美遡源總堂中國清遠懇親 600多人匯聚

全美遡源總堂刻在中國大陸廣東清遠舉辦第29屆懇親大會，共600多人分別從美國，加拿大，香港前往，從10月30日起，將歡聚至11月6日。波士頓有6名宗親代表出席，分別為(右起依序)財政鄺元傑，主席鄺炎彬夫婦，顧問鄺國添，雷國輝夫婦。波士頓本地遡源公所的雷方鄺三姓主席，今年在任的雷展灝，已退休的方汝沐，以及預定明年初任的美心餅店老闆雷活，肥仔記老闆鄺國彬，均因故未能親自出席。(圖片由鄺國添提供)(更新版)

波士頓僑界急難救助協會辦親子關係講座

僑教中心主任歐宏偉為「華人移民親子關係面面觀」講座致詞。

             (Boston Orange整理報導) 喬遷海外，安家落戶後，許多華人開始面對親子關係問題。美國波士頓地區僑界急難救助協會10月26日特地在波士頓華僑文教服務中心舉辦「華人移民親子關係面面觀」講座，邀3名臨床心理師及社工分享助人經驗。

應邀出席的3名臨床心理師，呂佳柔、張敏及鄭偉波都在波士頓地區執業多年，或以社工身分輔導過許多個人，家庭，對移民家庭源於父母，子女分別成長於文化習俗與認知價值，差異頗大的東、西方社會，遇事處理方式經常相左，感情因而隔閡等情況，了解甚深，輔導經驗豐富。

「華人移民親子關係面面觀」講座，由呂佳柔、張敏及鄭偉波主講。

他們3人分別以自己曾經輔導的案例做綜合闡述，強調溝通，體諒，從對方角度去設想的重要，給對方完整表達想法的機會，討論議題時要平心靜氣等等，才容易彼此接納，使家庭關係更和諧。

美國波士頓地區僑界急難救助協會現任會長歐陽露，前任會長王志維表示，親子關係融洽是家庭和睦的關鍵，卻也是許多移民家庭面對的挑戰，為幫助華裔移民第二代健康成長，減少華裔父母的憂慮，幫助僑胞在海外生活得更如意，該會特地籌辦這活動，為有需要的家長提供參考。

波士頓華僑文教服務中心主任歐宏偉表示，「華人移民親子關係面面觀」這活動很有意義，讓人更了解文化和價值觀的差異，對家庭，親子關係可能造成多大的衝擊，也教會人如何因應，僑教中心很高興有這機會支持這活動。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)

Baker-Polito Administration Announces the Commonwealth’s First-Ever Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program Awards

Baker-Polito Administration Announces the Commonwealth’s First-Ever Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program Awards

42,000 employees from 94 municipalities and public school districts will receive cybersecurity awareness training to better detect and avoid cyber threats

WORCESTER– Today, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Technology Services and Security Curt Wood joined legislative, municipal and public school officials to announce $250,000 in grants awarded to 94 municipalities and public school districts across the Commonwealth to provide critical cybersecurity awareness training for over 42,000 employees to better detect and avoid cyber threats. Lt. Governor Polito addressed the group of award recipients at Worcester City Hall to mark the end of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Employees in communities participating in the program will receive interactive online training in topics ranging from email security to USB device safety. Employees will also receive simulated phishing emails. Phishing is a growing threat in local government in which an attacker seeks to influence the employee to take an action that may be harmful to the organization, by masquerading as a trusted entity.

“Raising awareness of the challenges posed by cyber threats is an important strategy for the Commonwealth’s communities to best train and equip its employees with the tools needed to defend against cyber threats,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased to collaborate with our partners in local government to understand how we can better protect our communities.” 

“Cybersecurity is a critical issue for Massachusetts communities and schools who face cybersecurity threats but sometimes lack the resources to prepare for and combat them,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “These first-ever cybersecurity grant funds are a crucial tool to complement the over $9 million in funding for municipal IT infrastructure projects through the Community Compact program in providing Massachusetts communities and schools the resources and tools they need to combat cyber threats.”

The grant funding was included, in part in the Fiscal Year 2019 operating budget passed by the Legislature and matched by the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security to ensure as many communities and schools could participate in the cybersecurity training as possible.

In June 2017, Governor Baker filed legislation through the Article 87 government restructuring process under the Massachusetts Constitution to establish the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security as the cabinet-level lead information technology organization in the Executive Branch.

The Executive Office of Technology Services and Security began deployment of annualized cybersecurity awareness training for Executive Branch employees to better detect and mitigate cyber threats at the state level in 2018. The training will be enhanced year-over-year to account for evolving trends in cyber threats.

In April 2019, Governor Baker filed a $1.1 billion bond bill that includes $600 million in information technology (IT) infrastructure funding. $140 million of the funds are dedicated to further enhance the cybersecurity of the Commonwealth’s digital assets including the standing up of a new Security Operations Center.

“Cyberattacks are an emerging and increasing threat to communities across the Commonwealth and the nation,” said Secretary of Technology Services and Security Curt Wood. “By strengthening our communities’ cybersecurity posture, we are preparing municipal and school employees to better detect and defend against cyber threats.”

“Failure to proactively defend against cybersecurity threats in today’s digital world puts both the city and its residents at risk,” said Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus. “This is why training city staff to follow best practices and to be vigilant in the prevention of online attacks is so critical. We are grateful that the State is taking this issue seriously and we will continue to work together to keep our community safe.”

“In the wake of growing concerns relative to data privacy, security and increased threats, we are taking action to improve the Commonwealth’s preparedness within the cyber space,” said Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury), who served as Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Cyber Security Readiness.  “These efforts complement a national conversation and need for resources to support cybersecurity readiness.  I commend the Administration for taking an active role in working to better prepare our schools and municipalities for these very real threats.”

Applicant	Organization(s)	Employees to Receive Cyber Training
Abington Public Schools	School only	250
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District	School only	900
Town of Agawam	Town only	225
City of Amesbury and Amesbury Public Schools	Town and School	550
Town of Amherst	Town only	370
Town of Ashland and Ashland Public Schools	Town and School	600
Town of Auburn	Town only	150
Town of Bedford and Bedford Public Schools	Town and School	647
Belmont Public Schools	School only	450
Town of Berlin	Town only	226
Town of Boylston	Town only	292
Town of Braintree and Braintree Public Schools	Town and School	1000
Town of Brewster	Town only	160
Town of Bridgewater	Town only	175
Town of Burlington and Burlington Public Schools	Town and School	800
Town of Carlisle and Carlisle Public Schools	Town and School	25
Town of Carver and Carver Public Schools	Town and School	300
Southern Worcester County Regional School District	School only	218
City of Chelsea and Chelsea Public Schools	Town and School	1200
Town of Danvers and Danvers Public Schools	Town and School	925
Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School	School only	20
Dedham-Westwood Water District	Town only	15
Frontier Regional and Union 38 School Districts	School only	5
Town of Eastham	Town only	75
Town of Easton	Town only	150
Town of Edgartown	Town only	100
Framingham Public Schools	School only	1600
City of Gloucester	Town only	345
Town of Granby and Granby Public Schools	Town and School	200
Greenfield Public Schools	School only	53
Town of Halifax	Town only	100
South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School District	School only	100
Town of Holbrook and Holbrook Public Schools	Town and School	150
Town of Holden	Town only	173
Town of Holliston and Holliston Public Schools	Town and School	112
Town of Hopkinton and Hopkinton Public Schools	Town and School	120
Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District	School only	400
Town of Lancaster	Town only	94
City of Leominster and Leominster Public Schools	Town and School	1554
Town of Leverett	Town only	150
Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District	School only	164
Lincoln Public Schools