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星期六, 4月 30, 2016

波士頓綠路展出艾未未十二生肖頭像銅雕

今年是農曆猴年。(周菊子攝)
            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導)每個重約800磅,銅製的中國12生肖頭像,425日開始,一個個地出現在牛奶街附近的蘿斯甘迺迪綠路(The Rose Kennedy Greenway)上的噴泉那兒,將展至1021
            綠路保護會預定519日為這一系列的公共藝術展,舉辦接待酒會。
雞。(周菊子攝)
今年綠路上將舉辦一系列,約三、四項公共藝術展。中國著名異議藝術家艾未未這靈感來自1800年代圓明園被盜12生肖獸首銅像的“動物圈/生肖頭(Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads)“作品,也是其中之一,週一才開始安裝進綠路的環噴泉(Rings Fountain)公園。
            綠路保護會的公共藝術館長高文(Lucas Cowan)表示,安裝在細竿上的12個銅製生肖頭像,在噴水池旁圍成一圈,彷如正在對話,讓人們看著這些銅製品,思考起這些頭像背後的意義,又到底什麼才是公共藝術。
狗。
            綠路上的下一項公共藝術,將是“猴見(Monkey See)”,新墨西哥藝術家 Don Kennell所創作的750磅重,10尺半高的金屬雕紅猴。高文說,那會像是滿臉狐疑的巨型金屬紅猴在那兒,凝望過往行人,無聲的問“我為什麼會在這兒?”,“你又為什麼會在這兒?”,
            這象徵輝映“猴年“的雕塑作品將放在華埠公園,和去年的”羊年“裝置藝術安放的同樣地點。
艾未未12生肖頭像銅雕在綠路上,靠近海洋水族館的噴泉
那兒,繞成一圈展出。(周菊子攝)
            兩名麻州藝術家Carolina Aragón 及 Gianna Stewart,獲得綠路只向本土藝術家開放的”本地“計畫贊助,用頂端是有色玻璃鏡片,會旋轉捕捉光線的50068尺長光纖棒,製作出的“漲潮(High Tide)“,將在北端(North End)展出。以及名為“中間”,用5團透明樹脂做成,晚上會發光的蠔殼,將在杜爹利廣場和華埠公園之間展出,象徵”大挖“沿路翻出蜆殼。

艾未未的其他創作,2003年的“永遠(Forever)”,2009年的蛇天花板(Snake Ceiling)“,已從43日起,在波士頓美術博物館(MFA)的“亞洲巨型城市”展覽中。(更新版)


豬。






鼠。

牛。

虎。

兔。

龍。

蛇。

蛇。

馬。

羊。

馬過來就是羊。


星期五, 4月 29, 2016

Owners of Boston-Area Fried Chicken Restaurant Charged in Tax Fraud Scheme

Owners of Boston-Area Fried Chicken Restaurant Charged in Tax Fraud Scheme

BOSTON – Three men who operated two Boston-area fried chicken restaurants have been charged with conspiring to file false tax returns as part of a long-running scheme to avoid paying payroll and income taxes.  
Hazrat Khan, 56, of Middletown, NY, and Khurshed Iqbal, 56, whose whereabouts are unknown, were charged in an indictment unsealed today with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and 13 counts of willful failure to account for and pay taxes.   Adalat Khan, 46, of Chelsea, Mass., was charged in an Information with one count of conspiracy and two counts of making and subscribing false tax returns. 
According to court documents, the defendants used a variety of means to avoid paying payroll and income taxes owed by their restaurant, Crown Fried Chicken, which has locations on Warren Street in Boston and Broadway in Chelsea.  As part of the conspiracy, Adalat Khan managed both restaurants and Hazrat Khan and Iqbal took steps to conceal their ownership interests.  Adalat Khan, at the direction of Hazrat Khan and Iqbal, allegedly provided tax preparers with false information about the restaurants’ payroll and income.  Federal law requires that employers withhold payroll taxes and pay it to the IRS.  As part of the scheme, the defendants falsely reported the number of employees, some of whom were undocumented workers, and wages paid to the IRS.  They also allegedly paid employees under the table and filed income tax returns that falsely described their sales, total income, compensation of officers, salaries and wages, and taxable income.
The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution.  The charge of failure to account for a pay taxes provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, the costs of prosecution and restitution.  The charge of subscribing a false tax return provides for a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, the costs of prosecution and restitution.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, made the announcement today.  The case was investigated with the cooperation of the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John A. Capin and Eric P. Christofferson of Ortiz’s Criminal Division.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations.  The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

中華頤養院向創辦人致敬


右起,雷偉志,陳秀英,阮陳金鳳,陳毓璇等人揭曉創辦人牆。
(周菊子攝)
(Boston Orange 周菊子昆士市報導)中華頤養院康復中心423日揭曉“創辦人牆”,向14名三十多年前出錢出力,為病痛纏身華人耆老打造幾近完美頤養天年之所的熱心人士致敬。

右起,梅伍銀寬,李伍綺蓮,陳鐵堅,陳秀英,阮陳金鳳,陳毓璇,
以及黃劍南((左起),陳家驊等創辦人合影。(周菊子攝)

三十年前,是阮陳金鳳,陳毓璇,陳家驊,陳鐵堅,朱曉東, 梅伍銀寬,吳文津,黃令南,陳秀英,和已辭世的喬治史立德(George A. Schlichte),克文珍(Martha Jane Hackett),陳郁立,李實卿,黃兆英等人持續努力8年,出錢出力,鼓動了整個社區人心,才終於建成中華頤養院。
三十年後,經由陳秀英,陳毓璇及現任董事會主席雷偉志等人的努力,中華頤養院從波士頓遷址昆士市,面積擴大為57,000平方呎,床位增至141個,服務內容也擴展為包括短期康復護理治療。整體環境設施被譽為如五星級酒店,服務水平也有令人驕傲的19年零缺點佳績。
社區內許多人應邀出席。(周菊子攝)
陳秀英在“創辦人牆”揭幕式中懇切的感謝所有創辦者及其家人,不但三十年前慨伸援手,三十年後還繼續解囊。中華頤養院康復中心擴展遷建,共需籌資300萬元,如今已募得250萬元,還有50萬元仍待社區熱心人士支持。
陳秀英坦白指出,85%中華頤養院長期護理院民是由醫療補助(Medicaid)支付費用,每日每人次有 37.5元差額,中華頤養院的營運因此面對的挑戰不小。
中華頤養院康復中心董事會主席雷偉志在“創辦人牆”揭幕式中簡述了有如掀起波士頓華埠當代史一角的該院緣起歷史,以及多名創辦人的貢獻。
中華頤養院創辦人牆揭幕。(周菊子攝)
當年做社工的阮陳金鳳經常探訪獨居華裔老人,發現這需求,找了一批熱心人商量,歷經八年的討論,協商,奔走,籌款,中華頤養院才終於在1984414日破土,1985年落成。
那時候,阮陳金鳳的弟弟陳毓璇,義不容辭的協助,慷慨提供聚會討論者在他所經營的華珍酒樓(現名龍鳳酒樓)內,花5元就可點心,菜餚任享的優惠。他自己也積極參與協助籌款,在華人社區內前後共籌得100萬元。
雷偉志透露,籌到100萬後,中華頤養院要施工,面對著得拿出35萬元做履約保證的挑戰,是陳毓璇挑起重任,把那些創辦人全找了來,坐成一圈,請他們想辦法貸款,最後有24名企業家及個別人士慷慨解囊,湊足了這筆錢。
這些人後來把其中的14萬元貸款變成了捐款,另外又再免了10萬多元的利息,給華人頤養院打下良好基礎。
黃兆英及其父黃高壽也是中華頤養院的有力支持者。當中華頤養院在創辦初期,需要錢繳交申辦證照費用,或是刊登公告時,那些創辦人經常去找他們。黃氏宗親會也捐了5萬元來建中華頤養院。
中華頤養院的首屆董事長陳郁立已於1992年辭世,這天由他最小的女兒陳銓伉代表致詞。
陳銓伉透露,以前她對中華頤養院所知不多,這次因為中華頤養院“創辦人牆“揭幕,才從阮陳金鳳那兒聽來許多關於她父親的事,頓感中華頤養院有如她從來不知道的妹妹,是她上大學後她父親的心力所在。包括1980年代中期,陳郁立一度清空自己的儲蓄戶口,利息全免的借給中華頤養院,讓中華頤養院得以辦理第一筆大額貸款。她自己記得的是,中華頤養院起緣於中華耆英會,因為當年她和姊姊還被父親派去做義工,粉刷牆壁。

中華頤養院的其他創辦人,個個貢獻良多,包括本業是律師的陳鐵堅,為中華頤養院提供了許多法律顧問服務,包括和波士頓重建局等公家機關討論土地及區域規劃等許多事。曾任紐英崙中華公所主席的李實卿,曾協助中華頤養院爭取社區支持,給了中華頤養院辦理申請時必要的基礎。 波士頓大學退休教授黃令南,當年協助中華頤養院招聘了許多雙語的專業護士,醫生,還加入了董事會服務。陳家驊及喬治史立德撰寫了中華頤養院最原始版本的企劃書,並在申辦期間提供專業諮詢協助。克文珍和阮陳金鳳攜手,招募符合資格的雙語工作人員。他們當年拿到在政府登記有案的持牌護士名冊,再根據華人姓氏來一個個找。她倆還研擬出工作細則,福利內容及培訓辦法,使得中華頤養院的經營得以更有條理。

South Cove Manor Founders
       Paul Chan  陳家驊
                         Bill Y.S. Chin  陳毓璇                        
Robert Chin *   陳郁立
          William D. Chin 陳鐵堅          
Hugh Tung Chu * 朱曉東
      Amy C. Guen  阮陳金鳳
Shih Hing Lee * 李實卿    
Martha Jane Hackett  *  克文珍
Bernard Lin-Nan Huang 黃令南 醫生
       Ruth C. Moy  梅伍銀寬
George A. Schlichte  *  喬治史立德
Helen Chin Schlichte  陳秀英
David Shu Ying Wong  * 黄兆英
Eugene Wen-Chin Wu 文津
*Deceased

United Health Foundation Invests in the Future Health Workforce; Commits $2.25 Million in Scholarships

United Health Foundation Invests in the Future Health Workforce; Commits $2.25 Million in Scholarships to More Than 200 Students for the 2016-17 Academic Year

  • Diverse Scholars Initiative supports undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in health care
  • More than 1,800 scholarships, totaling over $13 million, have been awarded since 2007
MINNETONKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- More than 200 students studying to work in health care professions are receiving $2.25 million in scholarships for the 2016-17 academic year from United Health Foundation.
The funding is part of United Health Foundation’s commitment to investing in the country’s future, diverse health care workforce. United Health Foundation, in partnership with nine nonprofit and civic organizations, is providing the scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students through its Diverse Scholars Initiative.
“Creating a future health workforce that meets a community’s diverse and distinct health care needs is critical to building healthier communities,” said Chris Stidman, president of United Health Foundation. “Increasing access to culturally competent care helps reduce health care disparities and improves health outcomes. United Health Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to partner with national organizations and nonprofits to invest in the future health workforce.”
Diverse Scholars Initiative and Partners
Since the Diverse Scholar Initiative’s inception in 2007, United Health Foundation has awarded more than 1,800 scholarships totaling over $13 million.
“It’s been immensely helpful to have the financial support, but also the mentorship opportunities,” said Kenji Taylor, a 2013 United Health Foundation and National Medical Fellowships Diverse Scholar. “It’s so powerful to have people who inspire you and believe in your ability to do great things.” Taylor is currently completing his residency in family medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
Scholarship applicants must demonstrate financial need, the pursuit of a degree that will lead to a career as a primary care health professional, and a commitment to working in underserved communities.
The nine grant partners will announce individual Diverse Scholars recipients throughout the year.
United Health Foundation engages with the scholars throughout the year to support their educational and professional goals, including hosting a Diverse Scholars Forum in Washington, D.C., in June. The event will bring together undergraduate-, graduate- and doctorate-level scholarship recipients from across the nation. Scholars will meet with policymakers and thought leaders to discuss the nation’s most pressing health issues, network with peers and special guests, and engage in interactive dialogue to share their own ideas and experiences.
Meet our 2016-17 Diverse Scholars throughout the year by visiting the Diverse Scholar Initiative page or follow @UHGGives, #DiverseScholars on Twitter.
About United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and outreach efforts, United Health Foundation works to improve our health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local communities. United Health Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving health and health care. To date, United Health Foundation has committed more than $285 million to programs and communities around the world. We invite you to learn more at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org or follow @UHGGives on Twitter or Facebook.com/UHGGives.