MAYOR WALSH SIGNS LOCAL WETLAND ORDINANCE

MAYOR WALSH SIGNS LOCAL WETLAND ORDINANCE  Ordinance builds on the Walsh Administration's work to protect Boston against the impacts of climate change, and promote climate resiliency throughout the city

BOSTON - Monday, December 23, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today signed the City of Boston Local Wetland Ordinance, an ordinance unanimously approved by the Boston City Council last week with the goal of taking another step to protect Boston against the impacts of climate change, and promote climate resiliency throughout the City. The Local Wetlands Ordinance gives the City greater authority to protect its wetlands, which are crucial to controlling flooding and protecting Boston's neighborhoods and green space. The ordinance directs the Boston Conservation Commission to consider future climate impacts like rising sea levels in applications for new developments, construction, or special events. This ordinance is stricter than statewide standards, and will help Boston protect its natural areas for years to come.  "This ordinance gives us greater power to protect our wetlands in the face of a changing climate," said Mayor Walsh. "We're using natural green space to protect our neighborhoods from storms, floods and heat waves. Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, and this ordinance shows what we can accomplish when we work together, securing a strong, resilient future for Boston. This work has been a priority for my Administration, and I'm proud to sign this important ordinance with our partners today." Previously, the Conservation Commission followed only the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, which requires that any work proposed in a wetland resource area or within 100 feet of those areas be reviewed and issued a permit by the Conservation Commission. Under the new ordinance, standards will be stricter than state law. The City ordinance will now protect isolated vegetated wetlands, vernal pools and vernal pool habitat. The ordinance establishes a Waterfront Area which will serve as a buffer zone and allow for the implementation of the Mayor's Resilient Boston Harbor Plan, as well as allow for the creation of Flood Resilience Zones expected to be aligned with the Boston Planning & Development Agency's flood overlay district. "As a coastal city, Boston is extremely vulnerable to the threat of climate change with rising sea levels," said City Councilor Matt O'Malley and Chairman of the Environment, Sustainability and Parks Committee. "Policies such as this one ensure that we are protecting our current natural resource areas and local wetlands, while reducing impacts of global climate change." "This ordinance is a big step toward regulating development to match the scale and urgency of our climate vulnerability," said Boston City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu. "Boston should be taking every possible action to fight climate change, and I'm proud to have worked with community leaders to advance progress for climate justice."  "Boston is viewed nationally and internationally as a leader in addressing the effects of climate change and the new local wetlands ordinance is an important tool in protecting and enhancing the City's valuable wetlands resource areas, which serve as important protections against sea level rise," said Michael Parker, Chair of the Conversation Commission. "The City is already seeing the effects of climate change and the ordinance will advance the goals of Climate Ready Boston by defending against sea level rise and strengthening floodplain protections. The Conservation Commission is eager to integrate the new ordinance into this important work."    The major changes under the ordinance include giving the Conservation Commission authority to fully protect wetland resources including isolated vegetated wetlands, vernal pools and vernal pool habitat. These habitats are of critical importance because they provide many critical ecological services including the storage and filtration of stormwater, oxygen production, housing native plants and providing wildlife habitat. The ordinance also allows the Commission to develop standards for projects in the floodplain to ensure future residents are protected from flooding, expressly directs the Commission to consider climate change, sea level rise, and climate resiliency in reviewing applications, and develop performance standards to ensure the City is adequately protected from those effects.  Flood Resilience Zones are a new, additional layer of protection that will be established through the Ordinance. These Zones will protect residents who could become subject to the impacts of climate change. This additional protection will require projects within the Flood Resilience Zone to go through Conservation Commission review, preparing homes and businesses for future flooding events. The Flood Resilience Zones will be further defined within the regulations and adopted by the Commission. They are expected to be aligned with the Boston Planning & Development Agency and the 2070 Climate Ready Boston maps. "This ordinance will continue to support Resilient Boston Harbor, the Mayor's vision for enhancing the waterfront and our city's natural spaces while protecting our neighborhoods," said Chris Cook, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space. "Wetlands are a critically important component of this because they store and filter groundwater while acting as a buffer against storms and floods. With this ordinance, we are that much closer to achieving a connected and protective waterfront." "The ordinance provides a critical foundation for protecting and mimicking natural systems as we develop coastal protection around the city and absorb the precipitation from increasingly intense storms," said Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. "These consistent and forward looking regulations assure that our wetlands and wildlands are our first line of defense against climate change and continue to help keep our citizens safe." This ordinance builds on Mayor Walsh's work to create a climate-ready, resilient Boston. In 2018 the City launched Resilient Boston Harbor, which shows how a network of accessible open spaces and climate-ready buildings and infrastructure will increase resilience to major flooding events, while also increasing access and open space area along the waterfront. Like all the City's current planning, it prepares the City for 40 inches of sea-level rise. Furthering the Mayor's vision are a series of detailed neighborhood plans for coastal resilience. Coastal resilience plans are complete for parts of East Boston and Charlestown, for South Boston, and are underway for Downtown, the North End, and Dorchester. Earlier this month, Mayor Walsh signed an executive order requiring all new municipal buildings to target a Zero Net Carbon standard. Under the executive order, new municipal building construction must aim to be low-energy and fossil fuel-free, while meeting its annual energy needs from a mix of on- and off-site renewable energy assets. This action accelerates the City's leadership in climate action, keeping Boston on track to meet the goals outlined in the 2019 Climate Action Plan, as well as the Paris Agreement.  In addition, earlier this year, Mayor Walsh released the Zero Waste Boston plan, which will divert at least 80 percent of the City's waste from landfills and municipal solid waste combustors by 2035. The City has begun implementing strategies, including expanding education and outreach campaigns around recycling in partnership with institutions like the New England Aquarium, and is currently developing curbside composting and textile recycling programs for residents.   In his FY2020 budget, Mayor Walsh nearly tripled the City's investment in Greenovate Boston to expand outreach to Boston residents and support community-level climate action. Since the investment, Greenovate launched a climate action guide for Boston residents to reduce their carbon footprint at home, at work, in school and in the city. Beginning this month, the City will host a series of trainings and dialogues throughout the community on climate change. For more information, please visit boston.gov/environment.

2020麻州所得稅降至5%

 Baker-Polito Administration Announces Massachusetts Income Tax Rate Dropping to 5% on January 1, 2020

Statutory income tax lowering process now completed

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that the state’s Part B individual income tax rate will be reduced from 5.05% to 5% effective January 1, 2020. This upcoming tax cut represents the conclusion of the statutory process laid out in a 2002 state law to lower the income tax rate to 5% based on certain state revenue milestones, and will return $88 million in Fiscal Year 2020 and approximately $185 million in Fiscal Year 2021 to taxpayers.

“Starting in January, the income tax rate will be the lowest it has been in decades, allowing Massachusetts taxpayers to be able to keep more of their hard-earned money,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our Administration is working to keep the Commonwealth’s economy strong while maintaining fiscal discipline and now we are finally making happen what voters called for almost 20 years ago.”

“We are pleased that the necessary revenue benchmarks have been met and the income tax rate is being fully reduced to 5%,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This tax cut reflects steady economic growth and will provide a well-deserved break to Massachusetts workers.”

The 2002 law provides that for each tax year in which certain inflation-adjusted baseline revenue growth requirements are met, the income tax rate will be reduced by increments of 0.05 percentage points until the rate reaches 5%. The legislation replaced a tax rate reduction schedule that had passed by ballot initiative in November 2000.

“Consistent increases in state revenue are triggering this final income tax rate reduction,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan. “This is excellent news for Massachusetts taxpayers, and it was incorporated into our assumptions for FY21 so there is no change in our revenue outlook.”

Part B income includes wages, salary, and many other forms of income, including self-employment income; business, professional and farm income; S corporation distributions; and rental income from personal property. The rate associated with Part B income is also applied to several other income categories, including interest and dividends and most long-term capital gains.

There are five revenue tests that determine whether a rate reduction is required, beginning with growth in revenue over the previous fiscal year, and including a series of four additional growth measures. If any one of the incremental tests is not met, the rate reduction does not proceed. With DOR’s certification of the most recent revenue measure, all five tests in 2019 have now been met.

The rate reduction was last triggered on Jan. 1, 2019, when it dropped from 5.10% to 5.05%. Previous rate reductions included:

o   Jan. 1, 2012 (rate reduced from 5.3% to 5.25%)

o   Jan. 1, 2014 (rate reduced from 5.25% to 5.2%)

o   Jan. 1, 2015 (rate reduced from 5.2% to 5.15%)

o   Jan. 1, 2016 (rate reduced from 5.15% to 5.10)

The state budget for Fiscal 2020 accounted for the income tax rate change, which is projected to reduce tax revenue by approximately $88 million in Fiscal Year 2020 and approximately $185 million in Fiscal Year 2021.

By statute, the state charitable deduction will also be re-instituted effective the following tax year, or January 1, 2021, because of this income tax rate reduction. The estimated cost is $64 million in FY21 due to this change, and approximately $300 million on a full fiscal year basis.

真的一票之差 波士頓不分區市議員仍是Julia Mejia當選

茱莉亞梅佳(Julia Mejia)。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange編譯)每一票，都重要。是真的。波士頓今年的市議員選舉成了擺在眼前的事實，一名不分區市議員候選人在重新計票後，真的以一票之多，贏了。

             第一次參選公職的茱莉亞梅佳(Julia Mejia)，以22,492票，僅比亞莉珊卓古倫(Alejandra St. Guillen)的22,491票多一票的票數，贏得波士頓市四席不分區市議員席位中的第四席。

            這是波士頓市選舉委員會經過一連三天，重新計算67,011選票後，12月9日，週一時宣佈的結果。古倫很可能再上法庭，提出挑戰。

亞莉珊卓古倫(Alejandra St. Guillen)(左二)，(檔案照片，
周菊子攝)

             11月大選結束時，計票結果是梅佳以8票領先，古倫宣佈退讓，但數日後，古倫在支持者慫恿下，要求重新計票。波士頓市選舉委員會週一重新計票，宣佈票數差距從8票縮減為一票，贏家仍是梅佳。

            重新計票時為接小孩，古倫提早離開了，但她的競選團隊表示，她們會重新檢視計票結果，以及她可有的後續動作選擇，包括是否要到州級法院挑戰這結果。

            梅佳在計票結果宣佈時，激動得眼中含淚，但仍然說，有二就有三，她們已準備好接受第三輪挑戰。她也說這真印證了她們一直在宣導的，每一票都重要。

            梅佳是多明尼加共和和國移民，社區活躍份子，也是第一個當選波士頓市議員的拉丁裔女性。

            梅佳和古倫在重新計票結果宣佈前的數小時，曾分享她們的看法，都說她倆任何一個人贏了，都是波士頓的勝利，因為她們支持彼此，有同樣的價值觀。

            今年的這場波士頓市議員選舉，十分戲劇化。在選舉夜那晚，古倫在知道她落後200多票時，宣佈退讓。然而，當晚的計票結果是她倆的差距只有10票，波士頓選務局計入暫時選票(provisional ballots)及軍人選票後，差距只剩8票。

            古倫和梅佳各自從波士頓市的22個選區收集來50個選民簽名後，都要求重新計票。

            波士頓市政府選務工作人員為此擺出20張桌子，來整理選票，計算了2天半之後，週一下午3點，才算出結果。

            古倫團隊的一名律師，Gerry McDonough要求選舉委員會重新考慮對十多張票的決定。他認為選民填寫選票的方式有問題，例如有些選票既圈選了梅佳，又同時在填寫成候選人(write-in)欄寫了梅佳的名字，依照州法，應該算無效票。

            古倫在週一晚發推特，說她們相信如果上法庭挑戰，會有足夠的未計算票可改變選舉結果。她們週二時會決定是否上法院提出挑戰。

新英格蘭台灣商會年終尾牙 謝開明圖片輯

 (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)新英格蘭台灣商會日前在松竹梅餐廳舉辦年度尾牙，現任會長李以蕙安排豐富匯報，以及You&Me樂團的精采表演，和七，八十名會員，會友歡聚一晚，並祝賀吳亭縈(Tania Wu)接任新英格蘭台灣商會青年商會會長。
 駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬，紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊等多名嘉賓應邀出席。新英格蘭台灣商會自1996年創立以來的10名歷任會長，當晚也有8人在座，盛極一時。
 台商會的2019尾牙，請來青商會理事屠澤寬擔任司儀，嘉賓致詞後，先由蔡坤喜醫師以輕鬆幽默語彙簡報台商會成立經過，以及仿效台灣習俗，由歷任會長出資，贊助舉辦尾牙的傳統歷史。他也照例做了一首打油詩，送給出席眾人。
 今年和以往不同的是，尾牙會場佈置得格外雅致，每桌都擺花備酒；在正式餐會前，先舉行接待會，讓出席者有更多機會彼此交流。另外在會長簡報會務之外，還增加了蔡明機的出席世界台商會理監事會報告，歐陽露出席北美洲台灣商會會議報告，以及梅永寧、陳愛蓮介紹他們經營的事業，You&Me樂團現場表演”海闊天空”，增加了商會獎iPad一台的抽獎等。
現任會長李以蕙在簡報會務時表示，台商會在尾牙餐會之外，今年共舉辦有可分成4類的14項活動。
節慶類的有積極參與經文處，僑教中心及三佛中心，波士頓慈濟等僑界社團舉辦的凝聚僑心活動，包括元旦升旗，中華公所春宴 ， 聲援台灣參與W H O，主辦台灣美食廚藝展，在牛頓台灣日擺攤，協助會員宣傳各自事業，為餐廳老闆提供諮詢等等。
知識性講座部分，有稅務修訂，房地產1031交易法，Jeffrey Williams的”中國特色企業管理”，和紐英倫客家鄉親會合辦的健康講座，和年輕人合辦的台灣電影節等。
 創業類活動，包括接待台北生技產業團，南港生技育成中心，為會員提供來自台灣故鄉的科技創業資訊，還和青商會合作舉辦A Pitch Day的創業競賽。
 慈善聯誼類活動，包括舉辦保齡球賽，高爾夫球賽，鼓勵會員，會友以有益身心的健康活動，兼行關懷社會的慈善之舉。
 李以蕙強調，感謝台商會所有的榮譽會長，理事們及熱心僑界人士的支持與幫助，過去一年來的各項活動，都辦得非常成功。
 歐陽露在報告時表示，今年的第32屆北美台灣商會第二次理事會議於10/31-11/3舉行，並在聚餐之餘，增加了包括專題演講，傳承，新科技提升企業，創新大賽等四個環節，為期半天的論壇活動，以吸引更多人，尤其是年輕人加入台商會。汪總會長會後決定，明年將把論壇擴大為一整天的活動，目前訂名為Select Taiwan Summit，要讓世界看到台灣。
 歐陽露還特地指出，台商會不但有創意，在台灣，北美都能做生意，還樂於助人，提攜後進，例如今年有屠澤寬和林才民參與籌劃活動，就是一個很好的例子。
 接任新英格蘭台灣商會青年商會會長的吳亭縈在致詞時表示，她想幫台青商會辦更多活動，並充分利用她在亞裔美國人社區及其他地區的本地聯繫，包括與Forbes一起辦更多活動。
 新英格蘭台灣商會歷任會長包括王本仁，蔡坤喜，林鳳池，許漱馨，蔡明機，胡美惠，許炳煌，許欽浚，歐陽露，以及明年將續任會長的李以蕙。

新英格蘭台灣商會會長李以蕙(右二)和波士頓僑教中心
主任歐宏偉(右一起)，蔡明機夫人，蔡高進，黃怡菁，
陳玫菁。(謝開明攝)

新英格蘭台灣商會前會長蔡坤喜(右)，王本仁(左)和波士頓經文處
處長徐佑典。(謝開明攝)

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉和外交部秘書洪麗玲。(謝開明攝)

尾牙現場。(謝開明攝)

蔡坤喜醫師致詞。(謝開明攝)

經文處處長徐佑典，紐英倫中華公所主席陳家驊，波士頓僑務
委員蔣宗壬等人出席新英格蘭台灣商會尾牙。(謝開明攝)

新英格蘭台灣商會會長李以蕙致詞。(謝開明攝)

新英格蘭台灣商會會長李以蕙夫婦和台灣世衛外交協會的Alisa Lin。
(波士頓僑教中心提供)

會場。(波士頓僑教中心提供)

波士頓北一女校友會年會歡聚 李欣卸任 吳萍萍接會長

部分出席校友合影。(波士頓北一女校友會提供)

(Boston Orange)波士頓北一女校友會十二月七日中午在勒星頓市Sanyo餐廳舉行2019 年會。 今年年會席開八桌，有70多位校友及眷屬參加。 會場佈置著鮮明的波士頓北一女校友會橫幅，鮮花，氣球，聖誕裝飾將會場佈置得溫馨熱鬧。十二時會員陸續到齊，由會長李欣歡迎校友宣佈流程開場，邀請校友先享用二十多道樣式美味豐盛的自助餐。

波士頓北一女校友會會長李欣(右四)和團隊感謝校友支持。
(波士頓北一女校友會提供)

餐後開始年會的節目。首先由龍熙平播放她製作的精彩流動幻燈片，簡介過去一年校友會活動。其中包括2018十二月年會時的校友歡聚，以及今年七月在愛克頓城的Nara 公園舉辦的露天野餐等的精彩照片。會長李欣謝謝龍熙平並宣佈會將此幻燈連結寄給校友。接著由校友合唱北一女校歌。然後在北一女橫幅前照全體校友的團體照。

隨後進行新舊會長的交接。李欣會長謝謝校友們熱烈的參與活動。也感謝2019的九位幹事們：吳萍萍，張冕，龍熙平，李建，林麗珠，施粲粲，林遊嵐，饒雨涵，李以蕙，以及前會長江佩蓉的支持。李欣介紹2020 的新會長將由多才多藝的吳萍萍接任。吳萍萍贈花感謝李欣會長在過去一年為校友們奔波提供無私的服務。吳萍萍新會長的展望是希望明年有更多的校友參加校友會，除了每年七月第二周的野餐會，她希望能辦更多的活動，也希望有更多的校友自願服務校友會。 

李欣(右二)卸任，吳萍萍(中)接任會長。左起，吳國志，
江佩蓉，張冕。(波士頓北一女校友會提供)

校友們合唱，獻歌。(波士頓北一女校友會提供)

接著進行精采的歌唱節目。先由全體合唱‘當我們同在一起’帶動校友興奮的心情； 再由施粲粲帶領的小合唱團唱了兩首歌曲。小合唱團員分別是校友吳萍萍，徐宗玲，吳渝，嚴安莉，李芳苑以及他們的夫婿。兩首曲名，一首是依據唐詩人李白作品的「白雲歡送劉十六歸山」，歌詞以白雲象徵自由，脫俗，潔白的品格以及詩人響往灑脫的人生意境。第二首曲名是「如果明天就是下一生」歌詞令人反思你將如何度過今天。兩首歌皆由鋼琴伴奏，和音柔美，餘音繚繞。歌唱節目最後由吳萍萍的夫婿楊哲修帶唱卡拉OK，全體校友隨著音樂又唱又跳，欲罷不能。

最後是由張冕主持的遊戲節目。每桌一組，進行猜謎比賽。張冕出的是30道成語，每一道都由她在一張海報上手繪謎題，以圖形傳達語義，以字體傳情達意。比如，寫兩個「弓」字一個寫在右邊, 一個寫在左邊，打一成語， 謎底是「左右開弓」，猜謎別具心裁，極富創意。謎題一出，每桌爭先搶答，分秒必爭，熱鬧非凡，充分表現北一女必勝精神。30道謎題猜完仍有意猶未盡之感。 

年會準備了許多大小獎品，在餘興節目中穿插抽獎，即使沒有中獎，校友也收到了金桔。大會在祝福大家大吉大利中圓滿結束。(圖文:波士頓北一女校友會提供，林遊嵐撰稿)

紐英崙中華專業人員協會換屆 蔡明機，康雅雰接任董事長、會長

紐英崙中華專業人員協會年終會長交接   謝開明圖片專輯

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(中)代表僑委會委員長吳新興，頒發表揚狀給卸任的紐英崙中華專業人員協會會長彭淑敏(前右四)，副會長康雅雰(前左三)，恭喜新工作團隊就位。(謝開明攝)

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右)頒發表揚狀給紐英崙
中華專業人員協會副會長康雅雰。(謝開明攝)

紐英崙中華專業人員協會會長職位交接，
彭淑敏(左)卸任，康雅雰接掌。(謝開明攝)

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉見證紐英崙中華專業人員協會換屆，董事長
蕭蔚(左一)，會長彭淑敏(右一)卸任，蔡明機(右二)，康雅雰(左二)
依序接任董事長，會長職位。(謝開明攝)

紐英崙中華專業人員協會會長職位交接。(謝開明攝)

康雅雰(右)接任紐英崙中華專業人員協會會長。(波士頓僑教中心提供)

波士頓僑教中心年終座談僑務 感謝僑胞，僑團支持

波士頓僑教中心頒發感謝狀給各僑團及熱心人士。(波士頓僑教中心提供)

(Boston Orange)波士頓僑教中心12月7日舉行「108年僑務年終工作座談會」，總結今年僑務活動概況，感謝僑胞支持，頒獎表揚支持各項活動的4名熱心僑領，僑胞及5個機構。

會議由駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典主持，包括僑務委員蔣宗壬、梅錫銳、僑務諮詢委員陳家驊、僑務榮譽職人員及波士頓各僑團負責人，共有50餘人出席。

座談會現場。(波士頓僑教中心提供)

波士頓經文處處長徐佑典在會中先感謝與會人士的出席，以及他們多年來對政府政策及駐處工作的支持，再細數本年度僑界舉辦各項活動的點點滴滴，稱許各僑務榮譽職人員及社團在服務波士頓僑民，協助國民外交上貢獻良多，希望來年在現有基礎上，能得到更多支持。

僑教中心主任歐宏偉接著報告，說明該中心本年度的工作成果，以及來年的工作規劃，包括派發僑胞卡、簽署加盟特約商店的進展，全球華文網、「學華語向前走」教材的目前狀況，他還介紹了僑委會、駐處及中心臉書粉絲專業、僑務電子報、性別主流化、性別平權等的推動情形、提醒僑胞們，僑委會今年新推出i臺灣窗口，為有意回台工作、創業的僑胞，僑青，提供資訊，以及安心健檢計畫等。

在回顧本年度所舉辦的「元旦升旗」、「迎春聯合揮毫」、「牛頓臺灣日」、「臺灣傳統週訪問團」及「臺灣青年搭僑計畫」等各項專案活動時，歐宏偉強調，僑胞們的無私奉獻與支持，是這些活動能夠成功、順利舉辦的主要原因。

僑委會委員長吳新興為此特地發出感謝狀，由波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉敦請經文處處長徐佑典代表頒發。為108年臺灣青年海外搭僑計畫提供住宿家庭的郭競儒、馮文鸞、林瑩玉，提供參訪機會的Teratech 生技公司創辦人史美芳，以及紐英崙中華公所、大波士頓臺灣基督長老教會、紐英崙中華廣教學校、慈濟波士頓聯絡處、Idiil青少年夏令營等僑團。

座談會結束前，波士頓僑教中心送給每名出席者一份2020年僑務委員會月曆，以及僑務電子報的手機拭布貼。

首屆全球海外青年僑務論壇落幕 波士頓僑教中心跟進辦僑青座談

波士頓僑教中心送2020月曆給出席者。(僑教中心提供)

(Boston Orange) 波士頓華僑文教服務中心12月6日下午舉辦「僑社青年座談會」，臺美菁英協會波士頓分會、新英格蘭臺灣青商會、波士頓臺灣同鄉會及僑社青年共60餘人出席，從年輕人的觀點，暢談如何參與僑務工作，為僑社服務，加強僑青聯繫。

僑務促進委員康麗雪當日也應邀出席，匯報她在11月中旬返台參加首屆「全球海外青年僑務論壇」的心得，感想。

僑務促進委員康麗雪分享返台參加首屆
「全球海外青年僑務論壇」心得。(僑教中心提供)

康麗雪在這一活動中，不但認識了來自世界各地25個國家的86名青年菁英，獲得晉見副總統陳建仁，了解當前政府對外工作，現階段兩岸關係，政府政策，國家願景等的機會，見到行政院政務委員唐鳳，EZTABLE創辦人陳翰林等產官學專家，更見到前波士頓僑教中心主任，現為僑委會僑民處處長，即將於12月底調返美國，出任華盛頓僑教中心主任的郭大文，以及前駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長，現為外交部非政府組織國際事務執行長的賴銘琪。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉致詞。(僑教中心提供)

康麗雪特地準備了一份簡報材料，申述這次活動讓她獲悉世界各地僑界概況，建立起一個由點而線到面的世界性人脈網絡。她認為這活動對促進各地僑團及其幹部的橫向交流，提升僑社組織經營能力，很有幫助，她更希望藉此平台，將來可把世界各地的年輕人連成一線，攜手提升台灣在世界上的知名度與能見度。

僑委會僑民處處長，也是前任波士頓僑教中心主任的郭大文和康麗雪等
返台青年同聚。。(康麗雪提供)

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉表示，僑委會刻正積極搭建平台，培養年輕僑領承接僑社傳統，鼓勵僑社青年投入公眾外交，以民間大使身分，協助台灣爭取國際地位。歐宏偉也在會上介紹僑委會為服務僑胞所推出持僑胞卡到特約商店消費有優惠，以及今年推出的”i台灣窗口(i-Taiwan Window)”，為僑胞提供回台就業，以及赴台簽證、工作、居留條件放寬等資訊。他還介紹了僑務電子報，僑委會和僑教中心臉書粉絲專頁等，並鼓勵青年參與明年度舉辦之「元旦升旗」、「迎春聯合揮毫」、「牛頓臺灣日」等各項活動。

波士頓經文處科技組組長謝水龍當天也應邀出席，和出席僑青交流科技創業資訊。

當天還有新英格蘭台灣商會青年商會創辦人Adrian Cheng，台美菁英會波士頓分會的Jerry，波士頓台灣人的臉書版主JC Fan，波士頓台灣人生物科技協會前會長鄭永志，台灣同鄉會會長林碧憶，推動台灣加入世衛組織的Alisa，新英格蘭台灣商會前會長歐陽露等人各自分享了各機構正在做的一些事，包括建立交流平台，鼓勵創業，分享資源，參加美國2020人口統計，拍攝個人視頻來鼓勵出席投票等等。

座談結束後，僑教中心送給出席者每人一份2020年僑務委員會月曆，以及僑務電子報手機拭布貼。(更新版)

副總統陳建仁和僑委會委員長吳新興翰首屆全球海外青年僑務論壇參加者合影。前右一為康麗雪。(僑委會提供)

波士頓華埠和麻州高層走近 黃氏宗親為麻州副州長籌款

部分出席籌款會者和麻州副州長白莉朵合影。(黃周麗桃提供)

             (Boston Orange)麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)12月初再度踏足波士頓華埠，在黃氏宗親會和80多名支持者晤面，傾聽民意，笑納捐款，延續已4、5年的情誼。

黃周麗桃(左)和麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)。
(黃周麗桃提供)

             白莉朵原本是共和黨籍麻州屋斯特區(Worcester)眾議員，一連做了十年，接著在2010年參選麻州財政廳廳長，以993,127票成為當年共和黨籍參選者贏得票數最多者，但輸給民主黨籍的史蒂夫葛羅斯曼(Steve Grossman)。2013年底，她參選麻州副州長，打敗民主黨籍參選者，時任麻州總檢察長的瑪莎柯克莉(Martha Coakley)，順利當選副州長，和麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)成為非常合拍的拍檔。2018年，她和查理貝克攜手競選連任，以1,7181.341票，順利連任。

             根據麻州競選及政治財務辦公室(OCPF)的申報資料，截至2019年11月30日，白莉朵的競選財庫餘額有1,668,796元。在2018年8月，競選連任活動正熱時，她的財庫存金一度高達3,775,650元。

黃氏宗親會主席黃仁宇(左起)和波士頓消防局副局長
黃瑞瑜等人和麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)(左二)
合影。(黃周麗桃提供)

             白莉朵和波士頓華埠結緣，要從2013年底，她參選麻州副州長開始。在拜票，募款等的馬不停蹄活動中，她出席過許多波士頓華埠活動，當選副州長以後，也保持良好互動。

             黃氏宗親會的黃周麗桃，黃仁宇，從華埠發展歷史中，很早就感受到和政界互動的重要，不過早年多半只是應邀出席籌款會，最近這兩年，來往漸多，開始主動為政治人物舉辦籌款會。

             日前的這場籌款會，不但黃伍一家親的有黃氏宗親會主席黃仁宇，黃光沐，美東總長黃國威，議長黃國麟，婦女部主任黃周麗桃，伍氏美東副總長伍煥華，紐英崙婦女新運會顧問梅伍銀寬，會長張青梅，以及吳皓，方柳君夫婦，亞美會新任主席潘飛等人出席，就連即將卸任的紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊都到會致意。

賽默飛基因療法勒星頓廠啟用 麻州長貝克剪綵

Governor Charlie Baker joins Representative Michelle Ciccolo and Thermo Fisher company leaders to cut the ribbon on the company’s new clinical and commercial gene therapy manufacturing site in Lexington on Dec. 4, 2019. [Joshua Qualls/Governor's Press Office]

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MASSACHUSETTS NAMED OFFICIAL FUNDRAISING PARTNER OF APRIL’S B.A.A. 5K

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MASSACHUSETTS NAMED OFFICIAL FUNDRAISING PARTNER OF APRIL’S B.A.A. 5K

Special Olympics Massachusetts to field team of fundraisers surrounding the B.A.A. 5K

BOSTON, Mass. – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today announced that Special Olympics Massachusetts has been named the Official Fundraising Partner of the B.A.A. 5K. Using the power of sport to bring people together, Special Olympics Massachusetts will feature a fundraising team at next year’s B.A.A. 5K, to be held on Saturday, April 18 – two days prior to the 124^th running of the Boston Marathon. 

First run in 2009, the B.A.A. 5K annually features 10,000 participants from around the globe running through Boston’s Back Bay neighborhoods, starting and finishing at Boston Common. It is the first race of the B.A.A. Distance Medley, a three-race series which includes the B.A.A. 5K, B.A.A. 10K, and B.A.A. Half Marathon.

“We are delighted to welcome Special Olympics Massachusetts into the B.A.A. family, and look forward to a meaningful partnership surrounding our B.A.A. 5K,” said Tom Grilk, Chief Executive Officer of the B.A.A. “Special Olympics provides the opportunity for so many to experience the benefits of active lifestyles and the thrill of athletic competition – two virtues that are on full display at the B.A.A. 5K.”

As Official Fundraising Partner, Special Olympics Massachusetts will feature a team of 100 runners fundraising through the B.A.A. 5K. Runners who commit to fundraise for Special Olympics Massachusetts will be official members of their Xtra Mile team – training, fundraising and Experiencing Inclusion leading up to and throughout race weekend.  Xtra Mile team members will receive exclusive gear, VIP engagement opportunities, and more. 

“Special Olympics is so proud to be counted among the partners of the Boston Athletic Association,” said Mary Beth McMahon, President & CEO of Special Olympics Massachusetts. “The clear synergy of our organizational missions makes this a no brainer. We cannot wait to see Special Olympics athletes and supporters on the course of the B.A.A. 5K. The funds raised through this incredible partnership are critical to the growth of our organization. We’re excited to see what the future holds.”

As a leader in providing inclusive sports and athletic competition and training across the commonwealth, Special Olympics Massachusetts uses the power of sports to bring people together. Special Olympics Massachusetts believes that everyone, regardless if they have an intellectual disability or not, deserves to be a fully included member of their community. When given the opportunity to succeed, athletes with intellectual disabilities have the power to change perceptions in all aspects of life.

Special Olympics provides opportunities for individuals to participate in athletic programming from the time they are two years old through adulthood. In addition to sport-specific training, Special Olympics offers fitness training in conjunction with partners throughout Massachusetts to help ensure athletes of all abilities are given the opportunity to get and stay fit.

The B.A.A. 5K annually serves as a kick-off to Boston Marathon weekend. More than 75,000 athletes have finished the B.A.A. 5K since its inception in 2009, including participants from 83 countries and all 50 states in 2019. Registration for the B.A.A. 5K will open on January 15 at www.baa.org.

The B.A.A. 5K welcomes athletes of all abilities to experience the joy of racing on Boston Marathon weekend. The race route starts on Charles Street adjacent to Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden, runs along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, up Hereford Street and down Boylston Street before crossing the Boston Marathon finish line en route to the finish on Charles Street. 

For more information about the B.A.A. 5K, please visit www.baa.org.  

紐英崙中華公所選舉結果出爐 鄭慧民當選新屆主席

紐英崙中華公所候任主席鄭慧民。(周菊子攝，檔案照片)

（Boston Orange 周菊子報導）紐英崙中華公所2020-2021年新屆職員選舉，12月3日晚８點多開票，藝聯慈善社主席鄭慧民以票之24票當選新屆主席。其餘職位當選者為中文書記馮武成，英文書記阮鴻燦，財政余寶愛，核數張青梅。

             今年的紐英崙中華公所選舉，暗潮洶湧，或為派系門戶之爭，或因私人恩怨糾纏，錯綜複雜，更有中華公所年約400萬元的營運收入，以及近4000萬元的資產，以及正在進行的兩大住宅工程，幕後的合縱連橫，令許多人驚詫。

紐英倫中華公所職員改選投票結果。(中華公所提供)

            這一晚，波士頓的風雪剛過，選舉結果幾家歡樂幾家愁。當選者及得票數，依序為由鳳倫公所提名的鄭慧文，24票，波士頓安良工商會提名的馮武成，25票，阮氏公所提名的阮鴻燦，28票，余風采堂提名的余寶愛，28票，紐英崙婦女新運會提名的張青梅，36票。

Governor Baker Announces 10:00 AM Delayed Start Time for Non-Emergency Executive Branch State Employees on Tuesday

Governor Baker Announces 10:00 AM Delayed Start Time for Non-Emergency Executive Branch State Employees on Tuesday

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker is announcing a 10:00 AM delayed start time on Tuesday, December 3rd for all non-emergency state executive branch employees as road crews and public safety officials respond to the ongoing winter storm. The Administration continues to urge everyone to plan ahead and use public transportation when possible and check www.MBTA.com/winter for updates.