Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2.8 Million from Mass. Manufacturing Innovation Initiative

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2.8 Million from Mass. Manufacturing Innovation Initiative

 

Supports Infrastructure Investments at Three Homegrown Manufacturers – Lawrence’s 99Degrees Custom, Belmont’s Soliyarn, and Walpole’s Human Systems Integration (H.S.I.) Over $80 Million Invested in Manufacturers Statewide through M2I2

 

LAWRENCE – Tuesday, March 8, 2022 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $2.8 million in new infrastructure grants through the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative or M2I2 to three growing manufacturers. The three grants were announced by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy during an event at 99Degrees Custom in Lawrence, a 375-employee manufacturer of tech-integrated apparel, which received nearly $1.1 million in new state support. Grants were also awarded to Soliyarn, a maker of smart textiles based in Belmont, and to Human Systems Integration (H.S.I.), a wearable technology company headquartered in Walpole.   The three awards highlight the Commonwealth’s strength in innovative textiles, an advanced manufacturing sector targeted by the M2I2 program and a sector that the Commonwealth has played a leadership role in over the last two centuries.   “These three grantees are developing technical apparel used in medical and military applications, ‘smart’ products that provide enhanced protection from the elements but also provide enhanced functionality,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Through this support, they have the opportunity to enhance their ability to compete in markets across the U.S. and the globe.”   “Since its launch in 2016, M2I2 has impacted over 150 companies across the state and created hundreds of jobs at manufacturers like these,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “For these three grantees, the addition of new tools will help them grow their businesses, add jobs, and bring new products to market, further boosting our economy and growing our manufacturing sector.”   The M2I2 program, co-managed by the Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) at the MassTech Collaborative and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, aims to foster and grow sectors such as this to spur innovation and job growth within the state through cross-collaboration among companies, universities, national labs, government, incubators, accelerators, and other academic and training institutions. To date, the program has invested over $80 million in direct grants to growing companies, universities, and research labs across the state.   “Through the M2I2 program, we identify manufacturers that can leverage state funding to drive future growth, allowing them to become more efficient, more competitive, and more responsive to customer needs,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “For 99Degrees, Soliyarn, and H.S.I., these grants will help fuel the development of new products and drive corporate expansion, while simultaneously creating more high-skilled jobs and more innovative ‘Made in Mass’ products in the marketplace.”   The three awarded projects, totaling $2,838,375, include: · 99Degrees Custom, Lawrence, Mass., $1,088,375 for the project, “Integrated Apparel Innovation Center:” 99Degrees incubates, designs for manufacture, and produces technical performance activewear and wearable technology-integrated apparel for medical device, technology, and apparel retail companies. The Integrated Apparel Innovation Center at their facility will include a rapid prototyping center for apparel and technology-integrated apparel products, as well as an equipment R&D lab to design, develop and build the tooling and machinery needed to incubate and scale the production of advanced concept apparel and wearable technologies. This industry-led innovation center will ensure that the ideas coming out of the Commonwealth’s labs, academic institutions, research centers, and technologies companies are able to be designed for manufacture, piloted, and produced at-scale in Massachusetts. · Soliyarn, Belmont, Mass., $1,500,000 for an expansion project to build a manufacturing facility with scalable CVD Roll-to-Roll System for Conductive & PFC free DWR textiles. This project will complete a manufacturing facility with a scalable chemical vapor deposition (CVD) roll-to-roll system for conductive and durable water repellent (DWR) textiles that are free of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). The objective is to expand the manufacturing capabilities and commercialize the technology by designing and building a roll-to-roll system of CVD chambers that will allow Soliyarn to produce bolts of conductive and DWR fabric. This higher throughput roll-to-roll machine, and other ancillary supporting elements, are required to meet identified military needs and the exploding market demand for these types of fabrics.   · Human Systems Integration (H.S.I.), Walpole, Mass., $250,000 for the project Critical Manufacturing, Assembly, and Integration of Garment-Embedded, Textile Electronics Elements.  The objective of this project is to develop a new garment-embedded, wearable electronics platform that will be configurable during manufacturing to any desired product application. This program represents an opportunity for HSI, plus their current and emerging industry partners in Massachusetts, to establish a garment-embedded electronics supply chain for multiple products, applications, and markets. This initial Heated Apparel product offers a stepping stone to the development and deployment of an exciting garment-embedded electronics product category. This is the second M2I2 grant to H.S.I., following a nearly $1.5 million award announced in October 2019. The Baker-Polito Administration has committed more than $100 million in funding to the M2I2 effort, which allows the Commonwealth to co-invest in projects supported by the national Manufacturing USA initiative, helping promote innovation and job growth across the state. The three grantees have also received support from the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) national manufacturing institute based in Cambridge. "Our strong manufacturing sector and involvement with companies through programs like M2I2 was a key reason why Massachusetts was quickly able to address the negative supply issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ben Linville-Engler, Chief Investment Strategist at the MassTech Collaborative. “The Commonwealth’s engagement with manufacturers and partnership with key R&D facilities, made it much easier to help textile manufacturers and others pivot to produce millions of masks, gowns, and face shields that were in high-demand at that time because that trust and collaboration already existed. These investment programs have created a strong foundation that have led to these manufacturing success stories that we intend to continue to build on.” In addition to the $80 million directly invested in Massachusetts organizations, M2I2 has leveraged over $250 million in funding from outside sources, helping to enable the development of over 100 new products. In addition to infrastructure investments, the program has also created workforce training opportunities for thousands of students and workers statewide.  "I want to congratulate 99Degrees for being awarded a Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) Grant to help launch their Integrated Apparel Innovation Center,” said Senator Barry Finegold. “Investments in programs like M2I2 are critical to support economic and career growth in Lawrence and other Gateway Cities. I’m proud to see that Massachusetts continues to be a hub for innovative and emerging technologies.” "Human Systems Integration is a national leader in wearable technologies and manufacturing innovation right here in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Paul Feeney.  “The funding received by HSI in East Walpole will continue to support the company’s cutting-edge products while supporting the skilled workforce that makes this innovation possible. I am thrilled that HSI will continue to benefit from the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) Program, and I thank the Baker Administration and the leadership at HSI for their ongoing commitment to manufacturing here in the Commonwealth.” "For more than three centuries, manufacturing along the Neponset River in East Walpole has been on the cutting edge of innovation,” said Representative John Rogers. “Human Systems Integration, Inc. (HSI) has continued this legacy.  I am pleased that this state funding will continue to incentivize technological and economic growth in our region and excited to see the new state of the art products this business will create.” Manufacturers with facilities in Massachusetts can learn more about funding opportunities through the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and the M2I2 program at https://cam.masstech.org/. ### About the Mass. Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech The mission of the Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) is to foster the most complete, collaborative, and agile manufacturing ecosystem, to enable business growth from innovation through production. The CAM is a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), a public economic development agency tasked with supporting business formation and growth in the Commonwealth’s tech and innovation sectors. CAM provides a path for manufacturing growth through a connected, accessible ecosystem that supports innovation, workforce development and a business friendly environment. CAM managed programs include the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), the MassBridge manufacturing training program, and the mamanufacturing.com portal. Learn more at https://cam.masstech.org/

Quincy Restoration Project at Butler’s Pond Nears Completion

Restoration Project at Butler’s Pond Nears Completion

QUINCY, MA – March 9, 2022

Mayor Thomas Koch announced that the restoration project at Butler’s Pond is nearing completion.  The City launched a program to enhance this local wetland, home to a variety of native wildlife and a vital component of neighborhood drainage. 

The pond had been deteriorating over the years as sediment and contaminants built up in the pond.  The changing chemistry in the pond choked out healthy plants and reduced its habitat value.  Algae blooms and phragmite also helped choke off the pond’s vitality.

In April 2021, Quincy City Council unanimously approved Mayor Koch’s request for $1.4M in funding for the dredging of 3,900 cubic yards of sediment from Butler’s Pond and the construction of a gravel stormwater treatment wetland at the north end of the pond.

The City’s contractor, Luciano’s Excavation Inc. of Taunton, broke ground on the project in September 2021. The dredging portion of the project is now complete, and the pond’s natural depth has been restored, which will strengthen its function as a stormwater retention basin, as well as improve water and habitat quality via the removal of decades worth of accumulated sediment. The construction of the gravel stormwater treatment wetland is ongoing. The purpose of the constructed wetland is to filter out sediments and pollutants flowing to the pond via stormwater runoff, which will help preserve the benefits of the dredging for decades to come. The wetland and pond perimeter will then be re-vegetated with native plants to prevent bank erosion and restore the balance of the pond’s ecosystem.

“I am extremely grateful for the strong neighborhood leadership and support from the Friends of Butlers Pond through the years,” said Mayor Koch.  “It is through citizen commitment and involvement that we can all contribute to a better community.  They helped keep this project on the radar and the completion of this project would not have been likely without their advocacy.”

“The Butler’s Pond project is a wonderful example of what strong teamwork can accomplish. Between working with the Friends of Butler’s Pond to gain community support, earning the unanimous support of Quincy’s City Council, teaming up with the New England Herpetological Society and the New England Wildlife Center to protect the pond’s turtles, and coordinating with the Luciano’s team and our project engineer at ESS Group, I am proud to call this project a huge success,” said Julie Sullivan, the City’s Environmental Scientist and Butler’s Pond project manager.

To find out more about the Butler’s Pond restoration project, please contact Quincy’s Environmental Scientist Julie Sullivan at (617) 376-1287 or via email at juliannesullivan@quincyma.gov.

AIR FORCE VETS REPS LIEU AND HOULAHAN URGE USAF TO GIVE UKRAINE WEAPONS SYSTEMS

 AIR FORCE VETS REPS LIEU AND HOULAHAN URGE USAF TO GIVE UKRAINE WEAPONS SYSTEMS

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) urged the United States Air Force to immediately explore providing Ukraine with U.S. weapons systems. The Members, who are both U.S. Air Force veterans, wrote a letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall outlining how the Air Force can support Ukraine as it defends its democracy. By providing weapons systems like A-10s and drones, the United States can help Ukraine in the airpower arena as Ukraine’s valiant military fights Russia’s aggression.

In the letter, the Members write:

Dear Secretary Kendall,

We write to thank you for your service during this challenging time and to raise our concerns about the current situation in Ukraine. The resolve and ability of the Ukrainian military, along with an apparent lack of preparedness on the part of the Russian military, have upended expectations of a brief conflict. The Russians are reportedly recruiting Syrians with urban combat experience to fight in cities in Ukraine, demonstrating that the Russian military understands this could be a protracted military engagement. The President of Ukraine recently informed Congress that the main weakness of the Ukrainian military is a lack of airpower. We are therefore requesting the Air Force immediately explore transferring U.S. weapons systems to Ukraine to level the battlespace.

We both served in the Air Force and understand the lethality of our weapons systems. These platforms can help reduce the airpower disadvantage of the Ukrainian military. It is our understanding some Ukrainian pilots, through prior exchange programs, can fly the A-10, which was designed to destroy tanks and armored vehicles. The Air Force also has sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Our various UAVs can provide surveillance, target acquisition, and drop ordnance. We sincerely hope our NATO allies will provide Soviet-made jets to the Ukrainian military in the coming days. If that does not happen, the Air Force should consider the transfer of F-16 directly to the Ukrainian military.

This process is not as simple as merely providing the equipment -- some of these Air Force weapons systems will require training. It will take around two to three months to train Ukrainian pilots and ground crews on the F-16. It may take less time to train the Ukrainians how to use our UAVs. As for the A-10s, however, as noted above, some Ukrainian pilots may have already flown them, providing for a much shorter delay from transmission to utility. Furthermore, the A-10 is a legacy system that the Air Force has consistently attempted to retire in recent years but has been repeatedly denied by certain members of Congress. This is an opportunity to remove outdated systems from our arsenal and support an ally in desperate need at the same time.

While we strongly urge you to begin the process of transferring any and all weapons systems the Ukrainians need, we ask that you prioritize systems like the A-10 that can be put to immediate use. We don’t doubt that members of the Ukrainian military will be highly motivated to learn how to use different systems as quickly as possible while they fight for their lives. But while they get up to speed, they still need to be able to protect and defend their loved ones and their homeland.

The U.S. has already provided lethal Javelins and Stingers to the Ukrainian military to destroy Russian vehicles and aircraft. There is no principled distinction between a member of the Ukrainian military destroying a Russian tank with a Javelin or from an A-10. In addition, the mere fact that the Air Force is planning for the possibility of sending different weapons platforms to Ukraine sends the signal to Vladimir Putin that the U.S. will not back down, whether this is a quick war or a long war.

We understand that it will be logistically difficult to provide weapons systems such as the A-10 to the Ukrainian military, and that there will be critics who say the Ukrainian military can’t handle these systems. But challenging logistics or skeptical critics haven’t stopped us from doing the right thing before, and they shouldn’t now. We understand that what we are asking you to do is not easy. But with the survival of a democratic Ukraine at stake, we’re sure you’d agree that we have little other choice.

Thank you in advance for strongly considering our request. We stand ready to offer any and all assistance Congress can provide in this endeavor.

Sincerely,

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES ALIESHA PORCENA AS DIRECTOR OF SMALL BUSINESS

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES ALIESHA PORCENA AS DIRECTOR OF SMALL BUSINESS

BOSTON - Wednesday, March 9, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu announced today that Aliesha Porcena will serve as the new Director of Small Business for the City of Boston.  Porcena most recently served as the Director of Growth, Equity & Impact at Interise, a national economic development nonprofit focused on closing the racial wealth gap through small business growth. Much of her work focused on business development and working closely with the Small Business Administration to deliver programming across the country.  "Our small businesses uplift families across our neighborhoods, serve as cultural hubs for neighborhoods, and drive Boston’s economy," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "I'm excited for Aliesha's leadership to support all of our small businesses as we continue to take steps in our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and use all of our city's resources to build wealth and opportunity in every community." “Aliesha’s role at Interise and experience in business development will make her a great asset to our small business community,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Aliesha and her team will continue to support our small businesses and help to keep their doors open.”  Porcena’s experience in strategic growth and partnership development in new and existing markets will be important in ensuring that we meet the priorities of the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion — continued support to our small business community and activating spaces across our neighborhoods.  In this role, she oversees direct services and programming that supports over 40,000 small businesses. In partnership with Boston's small business community, Porcena helps build an inclusive, equitable, and accessible economy that works for all residents. “I am deeply honored to serve in Mayor Wu's administration as Director of Small Business in the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion under Chief Idowu, ” said Aliesha Porcena. “As a native of Boston and proud daughter of Haitian immigrants, I know first hand the power of creating an inclusive economy. Our small businesses are a source of strength and community for our residents. I am excited to serve the City of Boston at a pivotal time and work in partnership to help our small businesses thrive in today's economy.”  Porcena holds a Masters of Arts in Public Policy from Tufts University, and was a Neighborhood Fellow. She graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and International Affairs. The proud daughter of Haitian immigrants, Porcena is a lifelong Boston native currently residing in Dorchester. In service to her community, she is active on the board of Girls LEAP and with the Cummings Foundation.

Statement from Committee of 100 on the Recent Hate Crimes Directed at Asian Women in New York City

 Statement from Committee of 100 on the Recent Hate Crimes

Directed at Asian Women in New York City 

 
New York, New York (March 9, 2022) – In response to the recent string of horrific hate crimes directed at Asian American women in New York City, Committee of 100, a non-profit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans, issued the following statement: 
 
“We at the Committee of 100 are extremely saddened and concerned by the continued violence and harassment against the Asian American community, including the recent attacks in New York City against Asian American women. We are heartbroken and outraged by these horrific incidents, and once again call on our elected officials, law enforcement, and responsible media to immediately address racism, discrimination, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with actionable and concrete results. 
 
A recent study* by the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) found that 74% of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women reported experiencing racism and/or discrimination over the last twelve months, and 62% of all reported hate incidents nationwide come from AAPI women. For centuries, Asian American women have been the target of racist, sexist, and misogynistic treatment – and it must end now.
 
As an organization headquartered in New York, these recent attacks against Asian American women are particularly hurtful. The violence and rhetoric against minority communities across the U.S. is unacceptable. Hate has no place in our society.” 

波士頓公校面臨州政府接管危機?

                (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 「開拓者研究院 (Pioneer Institute) 」3月7日發表報告，稱波士頓公校長期表現不佳，建議麻州政府接管波士頓公校系統。波士頓公校支持者質疑接管建議源於學校私有化風潮。

麻州中小學教育局2020年2月公佈評估報告時，發現有34所波士頓學校的學生，在麻州標準考試 (MCAS) 中的分數，位列最低的10%。波士頓市公校總監Brenda Casselius和麻州中小學教育局於是簽署備忘錄，隨後，麻州撥款400萬元，波士頓前市長馬丁華殊 (Martin Walsh) 也在2021年增撥100萬元給波士頓公校，聘請了41名指導教練，48名社工，以及33名家庭聯絡員。一年後，波士頓公校也確實有改善。但是麻州中小學教育委員會委員Matt Hills在2021年9月時，仍然建議麻州政府接管波士頓公校。

開拓者研究院資深學者Cara Candal在她撰寫的「波士頓公立學校的接管之路 (“The Boston Public Schools’ Road to Receivership.”)」這篇報告中，引述麻州中小學教育局的2020年報告，稱依照成果評估，波士頓公校有三分之一位列全州最差的10%，但在全美100個最大學區的每名學生支出上，波士頓公校卻名列第2。

                麻州中小學教育局報告列出的重點之一為波士頓公校領導層不穩定，加上最近宣佈預定6月30日離任的現任波士頓公校總監Brenda Cassellius在內，7年內波士頓公校更換了5名公校總監。

             此外，波士頓公校系統在交受基本讀寫技能上，方法不連貫，在缺乏聯繫將不可避免地導致成果差勁的情況下，沒有問責辦法。

             波士頓公校的註冊入學人數，過去10年減少了8000人，2021年秋又再減少2000人。黑人學生過去3年來的註冊入學率減少了8%。

該報告認為，許多年來，波士頓公校招生率都未達標，由於學校經費是依註冊入學人數發放，波士頓公校得額外撥款給註冊人數不足學校，以確保這些學校有足夠預算來提供基本服務。在2022會計年度中，多達四分之三的波士頓公校獲得這樣的經費，約等於3300萬元。另外，在2018會計年度中，波士頓公校的每名學生支出比全麻州的平均數高43%，波士頓市公校教師的平均薪資，比麻州的平均薪資高27%。這些數據都顯示波士頓公校管理層不願意做艱難決定。

Cara Candal建議，改善波士頓公校的首要之務是深度評估波士頓公校中央辦公室的人事配置，以期波士頓公校即將獲得歷史性的聯邦政府新冠病毒紓困款，4億3千多萬元，能夠得到妥善運用。

根據波士頓公校網站上的2019-2020數據，波士頓公校系統共有125所學校，53,094名學生，其中西班牙裔42.5%，黑人33%，白人14%，亞裔9%，其他1.5%。波士頓公校教師在2020會計年度有4403人，若加上其他教職員，共10380人，比2019會計年度增加了189人。

教師及輔導員的人口地理結構為黑人21.5%，白人59.7%，西班牙人10.7%，亞裔6.2%，其他2%。

住在波士頓市內的學齡兒童，約有76,500人，其中約30%不在波士頓公立學校就讀。

根據波士頓公校的歷任公校總監記錄，應該是從2012年卸任的Carol R. Johnson起算，包括代理公校總監在內，波士頓市有過5名公校總監，依序為代理的John P. McDonough (2012-2015)，正式的張欽棠 (Tommy Chang，2015-2018)，代理的Laura Perille (2018-2019)，以及正式的Brenda Cassellius(May 2019-)。」

根據麻州法令，長年表現不佳的學區將在中小學教育委員會指派一名接收者後，接管所有的公校總監及學校委員會權力，並直接向麻州中小學教育局局長Jeffrey Riley匯報。

麻州羅倫斯市 (Lawrency)公校系統就是一個接管案例。麻州政府從2011年接管迄今，Jeffrey Riley在該校實施了個人化的輔導，延長了上課天數，並在學校假日期間都開放學習。

麻州政府接管的公校系統還有Holyoke，以及Southbridge，依序已各接管6年及5年。麻州政府在波士頓公校系統內，也已經接管了Holland和Dever這2所學校，分別交由非牟利機構「藍圖 (Blue Print)」和「教育網 (Education Network)」管理。

不過，波士頓公校總監 Brenda Cassellius 表示，波士頓公校學區一直在不斷改善，退學率才減少了2%，畢業率也創歷史新高，去年高達78.8%。

根據波士頓公校年報，波士頓公校的退學率從2019年的3.9%降至2020年的2%，意味著退學人數減少了283。

波士頓公校支持者，波士頓教育公平聯盟成員Lisa Green告訴波士頓前鋒報 (Boston Herald)，開拓者研究院建議接管，不只是對波士頓公校現狀有如耳聾一般，更是對才以79%比率支持學校委員會改為民選的波士頓選民們的侮辱。她也質疑，這是否學校私有化風潮催生出的行動。

波士頓黃氏宗親會頒獎學金 表揚35名優秀子弟

波士頓黃氏宗親會頒發獎學金，共35名子弟得獎。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓黃氏宗親會3月6日在華埠必珠街會址頒發獎學金，表揚35名學業成績優異宗親子弟，鼓勵他們進一步了解黃氏家族傳統，宗親會歷史，多到會址參加宗親會活動。

黃氏宗親們在頒獎典禮前，先在五樓開說明會。(周菊子攝)

              在頒獎典禮前，主席黃偉健，黃氏宗親會中文書記黃光野，外交黃鷹立等獎學金委員會成員分別致詞。

黃偉健說明，黃氏源於江夏，移民來美，定居波士頓的宗親們，大多數來自廣東，胼手胝足，改善生活之餘，還注重教育，鼓勵子女向學，汲取知識，光耀門楣。他感謝得獎的宗親子弟們努力讀書，祝福他們將來更上一層樓。

波士頓黃氏宗親會美東總長黃仁宇 (右一)夫婦，陪同雙胞胎孫子經智 (左)，經勇(右)領獎。
(周菊子攝)

                    黃光野說明，今年共有35名宗親子弟得獎，12人出席領獎。獎學金的評選，由委員會審核，決定，由於黃國瀚獎學金的資助，部分得獎者可得到較高額度獎學金。每星期日下午，青年醒獅團在會址練習，歡迎宗親子弟參加，學習舞獅。

黃鷹立給每一名得獎宗親子弟，派發了一份2015年全美黃氏宗親懇親會在波士頓舉行時，波士頓黃氏宗親會印製的一份介紹冊，簡述波士頓黃氏宗親會成立於1912年，黃氏在中國百家姓內排位第96，在波士頓是會址最大的姓氏宗親會等概況，鼓勵宗親子弟將來多到宗親會走動。

黃琦琦，黃志穎，黃瑤瑤等一家3兄妹(中)領獎學金，左起黃氏公所主席黃光沐，
全美黃氏元老團主席黃國威，黃健宇太太，黃氏公所主席黃偉健，全美黃氏美東總長
黃仁宇同賀。(周菊子攝)

               黃氏宗親會每年以一萬元為約數，發100到500元給學習成績優異者。為紀念前主席黃國瀚，該會另設有每年撥款1500元的獎學金。今年獲得獎學金的子弟，1-6年級，9-12年級，大學的1-4年級，各有9人得獎，7-8年級有8人。

                   黃氏宗親會在頒獎時，特地安排得獎學生拍領獎照之外，還要和父母、家人合影，和宗親會主席黃光沐、黃偉健，全美黃氏總長黃仁宇，全美黃氏元老團主席黃國威合影，以強調傳承、培養宗親子弟的家族觀念及感情。

頒獎典禮結束後，黃氏宗親為製造氣氛，特備紅包一份，資助黃氏婦女部運作，由黃氏婦女部主席黃周麗桃代表接受。(更新版)

黃氏宗親會為感謝婦女部籌辦獎學金頒獎典禮有功，送上一封大紅包，由黃氏婦女部主任
黃周麗桃(中)代表領取。兩名黃氏主席黃偉健(右一)，黃光沐(左一)，和全美黃氏美東總長
黃仁宇(右二)，黃周麗桃的丈夫黃國麟，開懷合影留念。(周菊子攝)

大波士頓支持烏克蘭 3/6人民再上街頭遊行祈願和平

遊行群眾高舉象徵烏克蘭的黃菊花。(圖片來自推特)

  

右起，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley，
波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn都到場支持烏克蘭人民。(圖片來自推特)

波士頓烏克蘭青年協會也組團參加遊行。(圖片來自推特)

  (Boston Orange 整理編譯) 俄國入侵烏克蘭，是一場看不到贏家的戰爭，從2月24日開打至3月7日，路透社估計至少已有9100人死亡，1800人受傷，170萬人流離失所，1700棟樓宇毀損。

             波士頓烏克蘭人 (Ukrainian Boston) 和新英格蘭烏克蘭人文化中心 (Ukrainian Cultural Center for New England)，以及三一教堂 (Trinity Church) 3月6日攜手舉辦支持烏克蘭活動，吸引了數以千計民眾支持，到三一教堂祈禱，從柯普利廣場遊行到波士頓廣場，聚集在那兒的柏克曼演奏台 (Parkman Bandstand)前，揮舞旗幟、標語牌。

             麻州聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，波士頓市議會議長愛德華費林 ( Ed Flynn)都出席致詞，表達從千里之外聲援烏克蘭人民心意。

             麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 更是採取行動，在3月3日時簽署了一份行政命令，指示州政府各行政機關和俄國的國營公司中止合約。

             聯邦參議員馬基 (Ed Markey)也在3月5日時呼籲把禁止進口俄國石油，列入禁制名單。

             這是大波士頓一連2個週日舉行支持烏克蘭大遊行了。

             這場幾乎令所有人意外的戰爭，已經打了快2星期，世界各地呼籲停戰的聲音從未停過，俄國和烏克蘭也三度和談，法國總統馬克隆也嘗試居間協調，但雙方各有堅持，各有擁護者，總人口加起來幾乎超過世界一半的中國和印度，竟然都未譴責。

波士頓市長吳弭 (上) 5日特地和波士頓市移民進步辦公室主任 Yusufi Vali
在Instagram上討論如何協助烏克蘭移民。(圖片來自推特)

             5日前，聯合國的譴責俄國侵略烏克蘭議案，193個會員國有141國支持，35國棄權，5國反對，12國索性不投票。和俄國一起反對此案的國家，分別為白俄羅斯 (Belarus)，北韓，厄立特里亞 (Eritrea) 和敘利亞。 中國，印度，伊朗，伊拉克，巴基斯坦，剛果，莫三鼻克，古巴，寮國，蒙古，南非，蘇丹，越南，烏干達，斯里蘭卡，坦尚尼亞，津巴布韋都棄權。

本身是億萬富翁的風險基金管理人William Albert Ackman在3月7日早上9點多，發表「像似第三次世界大戰已經開打」的論調。他說美國可以停止從俄國買石油，然後資助戰爭的荒謬，然後一旦春季天然瓦斯的需求下降時，歐洲可以照著做。

             烏克蘭總統Volodymyr Zelenskyy3月6日才呼籲國際各界杯葛俄國石油，同時否決了俄國容許平民經6條入俄路線撤離烏克蘭的提案。俄國繼續提出，如果烏克蘭同意「停止軍事行動，改憲中立，承認克里米亞 (Crimea) 是俄國的一部分，承認頓巴斯 (包括 Donetsk和 Luhansk) 為獨立國家」，就會停火。

             3月7日金價、銀價大漲，Brent原油也大漲到13年來新高點，每桶122元，道瓊指數則一度下挫400點。

             在俄國堅持要打，烏克蘭屢屢不和的這場戰爭中，平民百姓是最大輸家，在烏克蘭的許多人被迫放棄所有家當，逃離家園。住在其他國家，原籍俄國的人，成了代罪羔羊。波士頓環球報3月7日的一篇報導就點出，麻州俄國裔人士聚居地之一的牛頓市，就有多家店鋪遭遇不滿戰爭人士的粗言惡語對待，甚至有人要求他們更改企業名稱，去掉俄國 (Russia) 這個字。

            當然，把精力放在援助烏克蘭人民的也大有人在，不少來自台灣的年輕人，一連2星期的自發參加了支持烏克蘭人的大遊行，還捐贈物資，慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處也在響應台灣總部的支援行動。

波士頓市長吳弭轉發推特，表達支持烏克蘭心意。

             

波士頓市長吳弭上傳照片到推特，展現現場支持烏克蘭的群眾人數之多。

大波士頓商會頒發巔峰獎 表揚李愛雄 (Irene Li)等10名女性 (圖片)

大波士頓商會執行長James Rooney (左)和董事會主席Micho Spring (右)頒發巔峰獎給
美美餐飲集團董事長李愛雄 (Irene Li) (中)。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)應大波士頓商會之邀致詞。

美美餐飲集團董事長李愛雄 (Irene Li)致詞。（周菊子攝）

１０名獲巔峰獎女性。（圖片來自大波士頓商會網站）

 

Governor Baker Nominates District Court Justices Robert A. Brennan and Andrew M. D’Angelo as Associate Justices of the Appeals Court

 Governor Baker Nominates District Court Justices Robert A. Brennan and Andrew M. D’Angelo as Associate Justices of the Appeals Court

 

BOSTON — This week, Governor Charlie Baker nominated District Court Justices Robert A. Brennan and Andrew M. D’Angelo as Associate Justices of the Appeals Court. Justices Brennan and D’Angelo have more than 50 years combined of legal experience.

 

“Justices Brennan and D’Angelo possess decades of experience previously as skilled litigators and now as respected jurists that have prepared them well to serve as Associate Justices of the Appeals Court,” said Governor Charlie Baker. "I am pleased to submit these candidates to the Governor's Council for their advice and consent."

 

"Justices Brennan and D’Angelo have demonstrated their fairness and deep knowledge of and commitment to the law over the course of many years,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, these two Justices will make excellent additions to the Appeals Court.”

 

The Appeals Court is the Commonwealth's intermediate appellate court. The Appeals Court is a court of general appellate jurisdiction, which means that the justices review decisions that the trial judges from the several Departments of the Trial Court have already made in many different kinds of cases. The Appeals Court also has jurisdiction over appeals from final decisions of three State agencies: the Appellate Tax Board, the Industrial Accident Board and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. It consists of a chief justice and twenty-four associate justices. For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage.

 

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.

 

About Justice Robert A. Brennan

 

Justice Robert A. Brennan began his legal career in 1990 as an Assistant District Attorney with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, focusing on both domestic violence and gang-related crimes. He then joined the firm Gilman, McLaughlin & Hanrahan, LLC in 1994 as a Litigation Associate. From 1995 to 2002, Justice Brennan joined the Essex County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney where he was named Deputy Chief of the Sexual Assault Unit. Since 2002, Justice Brennan has served as an Associate Justice of the District Court, presiding over cases in various districts and divisions. He currently serves as a Regional Administrative Justice of the District Court, as well as First Justice in the Salem District Court. In 2012 Justice Brennan started as the lead district court judge in the High-Risk Opportunity Probation with Enforcement – Massachusetts Offender Recidivism Reduction (HOPE-MORR), a pilot program where probationers at high risk of reoffending can go under more intense supervision in exchange for lesser penalties for probation violations. He has continued to be an integral part of this program, overseeing its expansion in 2014 to Chelsea District Court, in 2016 to Worcester District Court and in the fall of 2018 to all District Courts within Essex County.   Outside of the law, Justice Brennan coached softball and basketball from 2006 to 2018 and taught Constitutional Interpretations of Criminal Procedure at North Shore Community College from 1996 to 2005. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986 and his Juris Doctorate from Boston University Law School in 1990.

 

About Justice Andrew M. D’Angelo

 

Justice Andrew M. D’Angelo began his legal career as a legal assistant in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in 1988. After graduating law school in 1993, he joined Carney & Bassil, PC as a criminal defense attorney in 1993 where represented clients in district, superior and federal courts, and eventually became managing partner. Justice D’Angelo was nominated to the District Court in 2006 and has been active in many committees within the Trial Court. He serves as Chairperson of the District Court Technology Committee and the Trial Court Electronic Warrant Committee, as well as Co-Chairperson of the Trial Court Virtual Evidence Committee. Outside of the law, Justice D’Angelo was president of Norfolk-Medfield-Milis Pop Warner program for nearly ten years and is a coach with Massachusetts Elite Football. He received his bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1990, and his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in 1993.

AG HEALEY JOINS A MULTISTATE COALITION IN SUPPORT OF TRANSPORTATION WORKERS’ RIGHTS

 AG HEALEY JOINS A MULTISTATE COALITION IN SUPPORT OF TRANSPORTATION WORKERS’ RIGHTS 

Coalition Argues that Workers Should Have Meaningful Access to Justice and the Courts 

 BOSTON– Attorney General Maura Healey joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm a lower court’s decision that transportation workers who load and unload interstate cargo are exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA).  

In the brief, filed in Southwest Airlines Co. v. Saxon, the coalition supports Latrice Saxon, a ramp agent supervisor at Midway Airport, in her claim that she and other cargo workers fall within the FAA’s exemption for transportation workers. The attorneys general assert that those workers should be afforded the right to raise claims against their employer in court, instead of being forced into private arbitration.

The FAA requires workers to raise claims against their employer in private arbitration proceedings when they have signed an arbitration agreement; however, there is an exemption within the FAA for transportation workers “engaged in ... interstate commerce.” The coalition argues that cargo workers like Saxon are engaged in interstate commerce and therefore that the FAA does not apply to them. 

“Transportation workers, including cargo workers, perform important and necessary services for our communities and for the local and national economies, and we need to make sure employers are not using arbitration agreements to unfairly reduce access to the justice and the court system,” said AG Healey. “I am joining my colleagues in urging the Supreme Court to affirm the lower court’s decision and empower transportation workers to bring their legal claims in court, where there is transparency and accountability for employers who take advantage of their workers.” 

 The coalition argues that the transportation sector plays a critical role in state economies and infrastructure, and a disruption in transportation or shipping operations caused by labor conflicts has the potential to impact nearly every aspect of commerce within a state. It is because of this, the coalition asserts, that states have an interest in ensuring that disputes involving transportation workers are resolved in public and transparent proceedings that allow the states to monitor such disputes and respond as necessary, as opposed to private and confidential arbitration proceedings favored by employers.  

Additionally, the coalition argues that states are better able to perform their investigatory and enforcement duties when these disputes are resolved in public forums. When workers are subject to arbitration agreements, which typically are drafted by employers and include confidentiality provisions and other protectionist terms, it is more difficult for states to gather information about the pervasiveness of unlawful practices.  

The coalition also argues that requiring transportation workers to arbitrate their claims would affect the amount of publicly available information related to the working conditions of these employees and hinder their ability to protect workers from unsafe and unlawful working conditions.  

The amicus brief is led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Joining AGs Healey and Raoul in the brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.