羅德島州龍舟賽訂9月3日舉行 頭獎5000元

 

羅德島州龍舟賽官網圖片。

             (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州綜合報導) 羅德島州每年一度的「羅德島州龍舟賽暨臺灣日節慶」，因新冠疫情停辦2年後，今年恢復舉辦，訂9月3日 (週六)上午9點至下午5點，時在羅德島州普塔吉市（Pawtucket）普塔吉河畔（Pawtucket River）的節慶碼頭 (Festival Pier) 舉行。

今年羅德島州龍舟賽的獎品。 (波士頓經文處提供)

                     根據主辦單位網站，今年將有22隊分別從賓州、紐約、麻州及羅德島州趕來參賽。來自麻州的有哈佛引擎9、海洋噴霧造浪 (Ocean Spray Wave Makers) ， One Racing，健康戰士 (Wellness Warriors) ，波士頓台灣龍舟隊太陽神隊 (Titans)，華人青年會 (CYPN) 暴風雨隊 (Storm)等6隊。

                         主辦單位的駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處和羅德島州黑石谷旅遊局為豐富活動內容，將在龍舟於普塔基河競比時，在岸上安排趣味競賽、民俗技藝表演、還有台灣童玩、手工藝創作等攤位，以及各種台灣美食。

                    今年的龍舟賽獎項豐富，划龍舟比賽頭獎美金5千元，趣味競賽則有長榮航空提供的美國-臺北來回機票1張，以及助波士頓台北經文處提供的10個台灣杯及10個頸枕等。

羅德島州龍舟賽暨台灣日自舉辦迄今，已跨入第21個年頭，每年從各地吸引成千上萬人到場觀賽，欣賞表演，參加活動，早已成為羅德島州的年度盛事。據悉，今年連州長辦公室都將派員組隊參加一場特別賽。普塔基市和中央瀑布市也都各組有市政府隊。

                    比賽地點在Festival Pier, Tim Healey Way, Pawtucket, RI 02860。查詢詳情，可上活動網站：www.dragonboat.ri.com，或電洽401-724-2200詢問。 (更新版)

麻州公佈第37屆番茄賽贏家

 State Agricultural Officials Announce Winners of 2022 Massachusetts Tomato Contest

Farmers from Concord, Montague, and Sharon take top honors at 37^th event

  

BOSTON – Today, Massachusetts agricultural officials joined tomato farmers from across the state on the plaza of the Boston Public Market for the Commonwealth’s 37^th Tomato Contest. Designed to increase awareness of locally grown produce, this year’s contest drew 95 entries from 18 farms across the state. The contest is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, and Mass Farmers’ Markets, and was hosted by the Boston Public Market Association. After the entries were judged by a panel of food writers, chefs, produce experts, and state officials on flavor, firmness/slicing quality, exterior color and shape, MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux announced that the top prizes went to farmers from Concord, Montague, and Sharon.

 

“It has been my distinct pleasure to host this annual contest to bring attention to one of the most beautiful and varied crops here in Massachusetts,” said Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux. “The quality and variety of the tomatoes on display here today speaks to the skill and ingenuity our hardworking farmers possess in growing these summertime favorites. As always, we thank our partners, the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, and Mass Farmers Markets for their help in putting this event on and the Boston Public Market for hosting.”

 

“At the Boston Public Market, we countdown to tomato season all summer long and we’re thrilled to work with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to host the Tomato Contest once again,” said Cheryl Cronin, CEO of the Boston Public Market. “We’re honored to host our region's local farmers in this competition as they showcase the fruits and flavors of their labor.”

 

Of the 7,241 farms in Massachusetts, 517 farms annually produce more than 6.7 million pounds of tomatoes on 569 acres with a value of approximately $14 million. An additional 16.8 acres of tomatoes are grown in greenhouses with an approximate value of $4.1 million. Consumers can find farmers’ markets, farm stands and other opportunities to buy local produce here.

 

2022 Massachusetts Tomato Contest Winners

 

Slicing Category-

1. 1^st Place – Verrill Farm, Town of Concord, with a Big Beef Tomato
2. 2^nd Place – Langwater Farm, Town of North Easton, with a BHN 589 Tomato
3. 3^rd Place – Ward’s Berry Farm, Town of Sharon, with a BHN 589 Tomato

 

Cherry Category-

4. 1^st Place – Red Fire Farm, Town of Montague, with a Starlor Tomato
5. 2^nd Place – Siena Farms, Town of Sudbury, with a Sungold Tomato
6. 3^rd Place – Red Fire Farm, Town of Montague, with a Sun Peach Tomato

 

Heirloom Category-

7. 1^st Place – Falls Farm, Town of Montague with, a Cherokee Purple Tomato
8. 2^nd Place – Russell Orchards, Town of Ipswich, with a Black Prince Tomato
9. 3^rd Place – Verrill Farm, Town of Concord, with a Rose Tomato

 

Heaviest Category-

10. 1^st Place – Ward’s Berry Farm, Town of Sharon, with a Black Krim Tomato weighing 3.83 lbs.
11. 2^nd Place – Verrill Farm, Town of Concord, with a Buffalo Sun Tomato weighing 2.49 lbs.
12. 3^rd Place – Langwater Farm, Town of North Easton, with a Striped German Tomato – 2.23 lbs.

波士頓慈濟慶吉祥月為眾生祈福

慈濟波士頓聯絡處負責人長金滿 (左起)接待駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處
處長孫儉元，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮兩位貴賓。 (周菊子攝)

                                        (Boston Orange)    慈濟波士頓聯絡處8月20日早上在牛頓會所慶祝吉祥月，一眾師兄師姐以佛經裡”法華七諭“為主題，精心設計、佈置出火宅、醫子喻，祈福、六瑞相，藥草，全球共善等6個不同場區，廣邀慈濟人與大眾一起領略與佛對話，心生善念的喜悅。

             慈濟波士頓聯絡處負責人長金滿表示，農曆七月在中國民俗中是鬼月，在佛教卻是佛陀的歡喜月、吉祥月、孝親月。全球慈濟人每年七月都會舉辦吉祥月活動，藉以喚起人們慈悲心念，集聚善意，為天下苦難眾生祈福，造福。

左起，長金滿，高金花師姊等人在全球共善區為眾生祈福。(周菊子攝)

             駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，組長洪麗玲，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮這天也特地撥冗出席，為眾生祈福。

            波士頓聯絡處的師兄、師姐們當天在牛頓市會所的佈置，從大門入口就開始了，出席祈福眾生，進門前就先看到安字剪紙，蓮花，和上人法語卡，感受到證嚴法師對弟子修行及行菩薩道的叮嚀。

黃素玲師姐在祈福區請到訪民眾點燈祈福。(周菊子攝)

             踏進慈濟會所後，從敲鐘，為自己、家人或世界祈福，聆聽開經偈，觀看志工演示入經藏，感受千手觀音人間菩薩的祥和，進而更進一步的了解吉祥月意義，人類肆虐大地多年後對環境造成的傷害，以及慈濟正在積極推廣的環保觀念與行動。

             慈濟會所外，有主要由年青志工負責的”火宅區“，強調環保回收的重要，還擺出二手衣物與會眾結緣，展示湘霏師姐與兒子收集舊球鞋回收的成果。”醫子喻區“鼓勵人們茹素護生。

楊美宜師姐在祈福區解釋口說好話，誦經，念靜思語的慈濟做法。 (周菊子攝)

慈濟會所內，設有黃素玲及楊美宜師姐駐守的”祈福區“，讓到訪眾生與佛對話，點燈祈福。六瑞相區，則是透過《六瑞相》的音樂，請到訪者閉目，聆聽大地聲音，感受祥和與平靜的氣氛，找到各自內心深處的平安。在中醫院進修的陳慧盈師姐為”藥草區“備有不同茶飲，以枸杞、黃芪、紅棗養生茶，抹茶、金萱茉莉茶，以及慈濟本草飲等不同茶飲，來呈現人生的不同滋味和體驗。

             全球共善區設在會所內的講經堂，以“靈鳩山說法”演繹示範，也邀到場者參加演繹，感受慈濟人入人群，行菩薩道，身體力行同行共善的精神。

             祈福活動結束後，全體出席者在”醫子喻”區享用午膳，品嚐高金花師姊主廚，烹製的美味素食，包括滷海帶、豆干，粽和蔬菜，醃黃瓜，西米露綠豆湯，冬瓜茶，以及另一名師姊帶來的紅豆年糕等美食，在輕鬆氣氛中強調茹素既對身體健康有益，也有助益環保，挽救地球。 (部分內容轉自僑務電子報，https://ocacnews.net/article/318251)

六瑞相區一片祥和。(周菊子攝)

六瑞相區。

火宅區主要由年輕志工駐守。(周菊子攝)

波士頓慈濟人為眾生祈福。(周菊子攝)

波士頓座談僑務 僑胞建議成立聯合校友會

 

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元(前左四)和部分僑團代表們合影。( 周菊子攝)

                                                                                                                                                                                     (Boston Orange) 波士頓僑教中心8月20

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右起)宣佈波士頓地區僑務工作座談會開始，請波士頓
僑務委員郭競儒，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑務委員陳仕維
，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝和僑團代表座談。 (周菊子攝)

日晚在牛頓市會址召開僑務工作座談會。潘昭榮主任報告十分豐富，三、四十名出席的僑團代表也發言踴躍，尤其在成立聯合校友會，集結僑團力量，加強連結年輕一代，鋪陳機會上，建議最多。

              波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮在會中還說明了，僑委會預定今年底推出，以虛擬形式提供數位資源整合功能的「i僑卡」，8月22日起試營運，僑胞們可自行上網申辦。將來僑胞們返台參加各種活動，就不需要每次都得填寫許多表格。

波士頓僑務委員陳仕維(左)認為僑胞也應關心居住地政治。(周菊子攝)

              僑委會111年的全球僑務委員會議，訂11月1至4日在台北圓山飯店舉行，主題為「超越90，創新實踐」。波士頓僑教中心特地在8月20日，邀請僑團代表分別就僑胞/僑團，僑教/僑生，以及僑商/僑務通訊這3大面向，提案建言。

              當晚會議由波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮擔任司儀，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元主持，率波士頓僑務委員郭競儒，陳仕維，以及紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝與出席僑團代表們座談。

波士頓僑務委員郭競為9月8、9兩日舉行的台灣美食節打廣告。 (周菊子攝)

              在座談之前，潘昭榮主任先匯報了9項僑務工作，包括說明童振源委員長上任以來的施政理念，僑務電子報，官方粉絲專頁，i橋卡及特約商店，牛頓台灣日，返國參加10月慶典，iTaiwan窗口，目前推動的重要僑商服務工作，僑教及僑生工作等。

             潘主任仔細說明了童振源委員長上任後的僑務工作4大目標，2項戰略，5項策略，依序分別為運用新科技與模式擴大服務全球僑胞，深化全球僑胞與台灣在各領域的連結與合作，發揮台灣優勢協助全球僑胞在僑居地生根茁壯，匯聚全球僑胞能量壯大台灣；僑委會扮演槓桿支點，撐起台灣，撐起僑界，建立單一聯絡窗口與整合平台；僑務工作數位化，資源整合平台畫，政府與民間合作雙贏，以僑胞需求為服務導向，僑務改革創新與活絡資源。

宋玉琴(左) 這次是以美洲臺灣客家聯合總會總會長身分出席。李苡惠卸任新英格蘭台灣
商會會長後，這次代表台大校友會出席。 (周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝 (右)第一次以中華公所主席身份參加僑務工作座談。左為
前任國民黨波士頓分部常委張韻蘭。 (

              潘主任的報告還包括波士頓僑教中心每年都舉辦元旦升旗，寫揮春迎新年，支持台灣加入世衛組織，牛頓台灣日，搭僑計畫，歡迎僑胞返國參加10月慶典，旅遊、觀光等活動。波士頓僑教中心已舉辦數場針對年輕人的「iTaiwan窗口」活動，台灣政府非常重視性別及職業平等，要求駐外單位宣導等。僑委會為方便僑胞，在line群組之外，還編輯發行了紙本及電子版的僑胞服務手冊，台商服務手冊，並且製作了僑委會的推特官方帳號，Taiwan Plus，全球僑台商農業服務方案，全球僑台商農業技術服務平台，僑委會90週年慶高階健檢方案等一系列的QR Code，，要搭起世界的「僑」樑，以匯聚僑力，共創國家繁榮。

             座談部分，當晚討論的主題包括鼓勵僑青加入僑社服務網絡，推動智能僑委會，加強華語文學習中心的輔助機制，推廣正體字教學及台灣多元文化，發展僑生人才大聯盟，借助各地僑台商資金、人脈、技術與商務網路，協助台灣產業向國際發展，推廣僑務電子報系列新聞平台等。

慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏(左)建議充分利用台灣資源，成大校友會會長陳婉如(右)建議成立
聯合校友會。 (周菊子攝(

              出席僑團代表中，成功大學校友會會長陳婉如，慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏，新英格蘭玉山科技協會會長許益祥，紐英崙中華專業人員協會董事長周萬欽，曾任波士頓僑務委員的蔣宗壬，僑務促進委員馮文鸞，新英格蘭台灣商會會長王志維等人紛紛發言，討論最多的是成立聯合校友會，與新英格蘭台灣同學會聯合會連結，充分利用前輩人脈資源來輔佐年輕人，在聚餐、聯誼之外，舉辦更多有意義的活動，為年輕人創造更好發展機會，將來留在波士頓成家，立業，壯大波士頓台僑的聲勢與力量。

波士頓市今年新增16個投票站 MFA是其中之一

https://fb.watch/f4Y0vM2aOV/

吳弭市長撥款20萬元支持12人為Strand劇院創作新演出

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES $200,000 AWARDED IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT PRODUCTIONS AT STRAND THEATRE IN DORCHESTER

BOSTON - Tuesday, August 23, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture today announced the City of Boston has awarded $200,000 in grants to 12 individuals and organizations to support productions at the Strand Theatre in Upham’s Corner. “The Strand Theatre has been an iconic landmark in the Dorchester neighborhood for more than a century, and it’s great to see such a diverse group of presenters sharing their work at the theater over the next year,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This grant program provides us with a unique opportunity to support those presenters, while also making these productions more accessible to the surrounding community.” This grant aims to assist presenters with mitigating costs to produce events at the Strand. The grant was open to all forms of performances, including dance, music, theater, film, and video. The City of Boston has set aside three five-week blocks on the Strand Theatre calendar throughout the next year for these productions. “We’re thrilled to be able to help bring exciting, new programming to the Strand with this grant program and give small and emerging producers a chance to bring their visions to life,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston.  The Strand Theatre grantees include: Boston Bhangra, which will produce two dance events promoting Bhangra, a form of traditional Indian folk dance. MAPOU Entertainment Inc., which will produce an event highlighting Haitian artists and vendors.  FaceMeStudios, which will produce its first collaborative project, FaceMe Body Gallery, a three-day event and gallery focused on sharing the stories of the women and their experiences with self-esteem and body dysmorphia. 4 Star Dance Studio, which will produce an event celebrating the organization’s 20th anniversary of serving the community.  The Boston Modern Orchestra Project, which will produce the five-year series As Told By: History, Race, and Justice on the Opera Stage, starting with the New England premiere of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. CUSAV Entertainment, which will produce Mega Show, an annual event featuring Cape Verdean artists with proceeds benefiting children in Cape Verde. Tony Williams Dance Center, which will produce a multimedia piece that tells the story of African slavery in America and includes dancers and spoken word.  OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center, which will produce the annual musical theater production of Our Story! Celebrating the African and African-American Experience through Spoken Word, Music & Dance, which takes place during Black History Month. Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts, which will produce its 26th performance of Nubian Nativity, a nativity show focused on African-centered themes with an all-Black cast, in November 2022. ANIKAYA/Akhra, Inc., which will produce The Women Gather, a ritual of healing performed by seven local and international ensemble members and a cohort of local dancers, singers, and performers. Robby Thomas, who will produce “We Move in Color”, a musical revue that seeks to capture the African American narrative through music, poetry, dance, and visual art, with 300 tickets donated to the community for the event. Company One Theatre, which just completed a four-week production of the new play can i touch it?, with all tickets being Pay-What-You-Want. “This grant gave us the opportunity to reinforce our mission—amidst a pandemic—by returning to the Strand with a story focused on its own community, told by a writer who calls both Roxbury and Dorchester home," said C1 Co-Founder and can i touch it? director Summer L. Williams. "Over four weeks of performances, we partnered with over a dozen local community-driven organizations connecting artists, activists, entrepreneurs, teens, families, and more—all coming together around a truly local piece of art which will continue to make an impact far beyond Boston, with future productions already scheduled in Los Angeles and Cleveland, as well as a digital capacity to introduce this neighborhood and the Strand to the world. We are so grateful to partner with the City in creating meaningful performances at the Strand!" Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $80,000 and were based on the scope of the production and grantees’ budget sizes. Productions must take place at the Strand, and the funding can be used for any production expenses, with the exception of the four-wall building space. Grantees receiving grants of at least $25,000 are required to make their productions Pay-What-You-Can or provide a required percent of free tickets to the community. Applications for the next round of Strand Theatre grant funding will open in the fall of 2022. More information will be posted on boston.gov/strand.

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2 Million to Support New Early College Pilot Programs

 Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2 Million to Support New Early College Pilot Programs

University of Massachusetts receives grant to launch new statewide Early College program with online classes

 

BOSTON  –– The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded more than $2 million to high schools and colleges, including the University of Massachusetts, that are developing new early college pilot programs aimed at significantly increasing the number of underrepresented students taking college courses while still in high school.
 
“Early College programs provide students with an invaluable learning experience that supports their successful future in and out of the classroom,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased that UMass will now be among the higher education institution partners, and we are grateful for their commitment to expanding access to college courses for high school students across the Commonwealth.”
 
“Students from every community in the Commonwealth will now have even more opportunities to build a bridge to college through these innovative new models,” Lt. Governor Karyn Polito said. “Congratulations to each of the grant recipients for proposing ways in which we can make Early College opportunities more widely available.”
 
“We’re proud to make these grants available to programs who are thinking critically about how to expand access to college courses for more high school students,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “All students, and particularly those who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, deserve the opportunity to prepare for postsecondary education. These early college models will help more students have this opportunity.”  
 
"These grants will accelerate innovation, build capacity, and strengthen quality in early college programs across Massachusetts,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “UMass is grateful for the confidence that the Baker-Polito Administration is showing in our initiatives on the South Coast and in the Merrimack Valley.  With our colleagues at UMass Dartmouth and UMass Lowell, we look forward to working with our partner high schools to open new higher education pathways for their students."
 
The University of Massachusetts (UMass) received $940,000 to launch its first early college program and support seven partnerships with high schools surrounding its Dartmouth and Lowell campuses. Known as Commonwealth Collegiate Academy, UMass will offer live course instruction delivered remotely by its faculty to students in multiple high schools during the school day. High school instructors will partner with their UMass colleagues to provide face-to-face support for labs, discussion sections and team-based projects. UMass anticipates receiving official designation status from the state in the future, and these startup early college programs will be able to request additional state funding next year to work toward their designations.
 
Since its launch in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has undertaken a statewide effort to expand Early College to substantially increase the number of high school students who take college courses and earn credits at no cost before they graduate high school. The Fiscal Year 2023 budget signed by the Governor included a significant increase to Early College funding to bring the total annual investment to more than $19 million. 

Currently, there are approximately 5,400 students enrolled in Early College courses at 50 high schools across the Commonwealth. The Executive Office of Education anticipates that approximately 8,700 students will be enrolled in Early College programs by the 2024-2025 school year. About half of the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities have Early College programs at their high schools, and nearly 60 percent of students enrolled in Early College come from low-income backgrounds.

Students who participate in Early College programs enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their high school peers, and it boosts college completion rates for low-income, minority and first-generation college students. In 2019, approximately 76 percent of Early College students enrolled in college after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate in Early College.
 
The following applicants received grants:

• Boston Public Schools partnered with Roxbury Community College - $120,000
• Brockton Public Schools partnered with Massasoit Community College and UMass Dartmouth - $200,000 - Brockton High School is partnering with Massasoit Community College and UMass Dartmouth to launch a district-wide Early College program that enrolls several hundred students. The program will begin recruiting middle school students and provide college coursework and support to high school students in the district.  
• Digital Ready partnering with Revere Public Schools and Boston Public Schools - $120,000
• Franklin County Public Schools partnered with Greenfield Community College - $200,000- Franklin County Public Schools and Greenfield Community College are partnering to develop a rural delivery model pilot of Early College. The college will launch a pilot this fall with Mohawk Trail Regional High School.  
• South Shore Consortium partnered with King Philip Public School District - $100,000
• Lynn Public Schools partnered with North Shore Community College - $200,000 - Lynn Public Schools is working with North Shore Community College to open an on-campus Early College high school this fall starting with a 9th grade class.
• Merrimack College - $120,000
• University of Massachusetts President’s Office with Billerica, Brockton, Dracut, Fall River, Methuen, New Bedford, and Taunton public schools- $940,000

AG HEALEY SECURES NEARLY $3 MILLION IN PENALTIES AND BACK WAGES WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN FISCAL YEAR 2022

 AG HEALEY SECURES NEARLY $3 MILLION IN PENALTIES AND BACK WAGES WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN FISCAL YEAR 2022

AG’s Fair Labor Division Cited 100 Construction Companies for Violating State Labor Laws, Securing Restitution for More Than 850 Workers

 

BOSTON — As part of an ongoing initiative to combat wage theft in the construction industry, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that her office issued 216 citations against 100 construction companies for violating the state’s wage and hour and prevailing wage laws over fiscal year 2022. As a result of these enforcement actions, more than 853 workers will receive more than $1.7 million in back pay and the companies will pay over $1.1 million in fines.

“Our Fair Labor Division works hard to advocate for construction workers across Massachusetts who are often vulnerable to wage theft and other forms of exploitation on the job,” said AG Healey. “Through continued enforcement, outreach, and education, we are committed to ensuring a fair working environment in the construction industry and a level playing field for responsible employers.”

The violations in these cases, handled by the AG’s Fair Labor Division, include the failure to pay wages in a timely manner, to pay overtime, and to furnish records for inspection, as well as retaliation. For work performed on public construction projects, violations include failure to pay the prevailing wage, to submit true and accurate certified payroll records, and to register and pay apprentices appropriately.

Some of the 2022 enforcement actions include citations against the following construction companies:

• Rochester Bituminous Products, Inc., and its owners, President, Thomas Russo, Manager, Albert Todesca, and Treasurer, Michael P. Todesca, were issued 25 citations totaling more than $1.2 million in restitution and penalties for prevailing wage violations and failing to submit certified payroll records. The violations occurred on various public projects, including projects for the City of Boston, Town of Mattapoisett, Boston Water & Sewer Commission, as well as Abington, Bridgewater, Canton, Plymouth, Sharon, and Weymouth.
• Superior Carpentry, Inc., and its President, Fernando Barroso, and Vice President, Felipe Drumond, were issued five citations for over $540,000 in restitution and penalties for failure to pay prevailing wages and for submittal of false payroll records to awarding authorities on public projects at the Middleborough and Westport police stations.
• Railworks Track Systems, Inc., will pay more than $220,000 in restitution and penalties for failing to pay the proper overtime rate to workers, failing to properly account for different hourly rates of pay earned by employees during the same work week, and failing to submit true and accurate payroll records for work performed on public works projects in Hyannis, Falmouth. Framingham, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Sheffield, and Stockbridge.  
• Gonza Construction Inc. was issued five citations totaling $143,000 in restitution and penalties for prevailing wage, record-keeping, earned sick time, and paystub violations on a public project in Stoughton.

In partnership with government agencies, worker advocacy groups, and labor unions, the AG’s Fair Labor Division raises awareness about workers' rights and employer responsibilities under the law. It has prioritized outreach and education across Massachusetts through trainings in which workers can learn more about their rights under Massachusetts wage and hour laws, including earned sick time, breaks and how and when they should be paid. Additionally, the Fair Labor Division has worked with other governmental agencies, including the Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Labor Standards, to update materials and provide guidance to awarding authorities and contractors in order to ensure compliance with prevailing wage and construction bid laws.

The Fair Labor Division’s Bid Unit, which is responsible for investigating and enforcing the competitive bidding laws that govern contracts for public construction projects in Massachusetts, resolved 210 bid protests in 2022. The Bid Unit ensures transparency and fairness in the bidding and granting of public construction contracts.

Next month, the AG’s Office will issue its seventh annual Labor Day Report on its efforts to address wage theft and other forms of worker exploitation. The report will highlight the restitution and penalties ordered against employers and proactive initiatives undertaken by the office on behalf of working people in Massachusetts.

AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage, earned sick time and overtime laws, as well as the competitive bidding laws that govern contracts for public works construction. Workers who believe their rights have been violated in their workplace are encouraged to file a complaint at www.mass.gov/ago/wagetheft.

For information about the state’s wage and hour laws, workers may call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at 617-727-3465 or go to the Attorney General’s new Workplace Rights website www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for materials in multiple languages.

波士頓市長匯報橘線停駛第一天搭乘巴士經驗

 

MAYOR WU AND BOSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DEDICATE WALKER PLAYGROUND BASKETBALL COURTS IN MEMORY OF MEDINA DIXON

MAYOR WU AND BOSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DEDICATE WALKER PLAYGROUND BASKETBALL COURTS IN MEMORY OF MEDINA DIXON

BOSTON - Saturday, August 20, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods joined members of the Dixon family and local coaches and players on August 20 for the dedication of the basketball courts at Walker Playground in Mattapan in honor of the late Medina Dixon. “There are heroic acts happening every day in our city, there are leaders who emerge and become inspirations and role models that reshape the history for generations to come – and Ms. Medina Dixon really set the standard. This is a tribute to as much Medina Dixon as it is to the family and the legacy that they continue to represent,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We’re very grateful to the Parks Department and so many for making sure that her legacy will always and forever be here as a platform for other young people to build their dreams on top of as well.” At 6’ 3”, Medina Dixon was Mattapan and Dorchester’s pride, a powerhouse who learned the game in the same park at 550 Norfolk Street where the courts now named after her are located. These are the first basketball courts in the City of Boston park system to be named after a woman. “Medina Dixon was the best female basketball player to ever come out of New England,” noted Alfreda Harris, longtime community activist in Roxbury and beyond and one of Boston’s most successful basketball coaches. “It was an honor for me to have coached her and been a part of her life.” Harris mentored the 15-year-old Dixon at the Shelburne Community Center after hearing about her outplaying the neighborhood boys in Mattapan. By the time she transferred from West Roxbury High to Cambridge Rindge & Latin, Medina Dixon was the top female high school player in the US. Dixon’s level of play was so advanced that the school actually considered having her play on the boys’ team but she preferred to play in the girls’ league where she broke records and mentored other players.  She began her college career at South Carolina in 1981 then transferred to Old Dominion for her last three seasons where she was an NCAA champion and brought back the gold at the FIBA World Championship and the bronze at both the 1991 Pan American Games in Cuba and the 1992 summer Olympics in Barcelona where she led the US “Dream Team” in scoring. With limited opportunities in the US, Medina played professionally for ten years in Italy, Russia, and Japan and met her future wife, Yoyo. After she moved on to professional play, Medina Dixon’s number 13 was retired by Old Dominion and her number 44 was retired by Cambridge where she is in the school’s Hall of Fame. Medina Dixon continued to inspire fans, coaches, and fellow players until her untimely death from pancreatic cancer in November of 2021. She was 59.   On June 30, Mayor Wu unveiled more than $1.7 million in additional park improvements at Walker Playground. The renovations included upgrading the field, enhancing all entrances including formerly non-ADA compliant entrances, repaving pathways including a walking loop around the field, adding a drinking fountain, solar benches, and lighting along the walking loop and throughout the park, repairing the shelter roof, and adding a police call box.   For more information, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-4505. Stay up to date with news, events, and improvements in Boston parks by signing up for our email list at bit.ly/Get-Parks-Emails and following our social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.