華埠退伍軍人會將一連三個週末為貧困人家募兒童玩具

 華埠退伍軍人會（Chinatown Post 328）會長司徒文信（右）廿五日晚出席
中華公所董事會，說明募捐活動，並首次全程出席會議。鳳倫公所
主席司徒宗達（左）笑說，他們兩人外型很像。（周菊子攝）

(Boston Orange 波士頓報導) 紐英崙中華公所十一月廿五日晚召開董事大會，華埠退伍軍人會出席報告將舉辦募捐玩具活動，波士頓僑務委員馬滌凡匯報中華公所圖書館近況。

            華埠退伍軍人會（Chinatown Post 328）會長司徒文信在會中報告，該會今年將在十一月三十日，十二月七日、十四日這三天的早上十一點至下午三點，到華埠牌樓前設點，收集捐給兒童的玩具。

            這一活動是響應美國海軍儲備隊的“給兒童玩具”項目，協助該組織收集玩具，在聖誕節期間分送到各個社區的貧困人家，讓他們的小孩也能在聖誕節期間享受拿到新玩具的歡樂。

            波士頓僑務委員馬滌凡當晚出席會議，匯報僑委會與紐英崙中華公所合作辦理的圖書館，共收到捐款三萬一千五百元，清理場地，裝修及添購傢俱等，共花用了二萬六千多元，現在還剩四千多元。部分款項將用於製作牌匾，感謝捐款者。據悉，圖書館在募款之初，曾經說明，捐款一千元以上者，可獲牌匾感謝。

            中華公所董事梁添光在報告後提議，該圖書館屬於中華公所所有，不應懸掛青天白日滿地紅旗幟。

天氣預報下雪兩吋 波士頓市府發通告提醒市民小心

Winter Weather Advisory for Wednesday, November 26, 2014

BOSTON -- The National Weather Service has declared a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the City of Boston through 7:00 a.m. Thursday. Latest forecasts indicate the storm is expected to result in a wintry mix of rain, snow, and sleet, with accumulations of up to 1 to 2 inches of slushy snow. Boston is likely to see heavy rain this afternoon that will change to snow and sleet this evening. 

Holiday travelers are cautioned that the weather conditions are anticipated to have a significant impact on travel, and to plan accordingly. Boston Transportation Department will have their Traffic Management Center activated to mitigate any travel concerns. 

Snow/Ice Control and Response

City of Boston Public Works crews are prepared with more than 200 pieces of equipment on call for snow and ice control, and a full compliment of salt on hand.

The Boston Water & Sewer Commission will have crews monitoring neighborhoods to ensure that all drains are cleared. 

NSTAR will have extra crews on standby to respond to any service issues. 

Emergency Shelter Operations

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) coordinates a city-wide network of emergency shelters, outreach providers, city agencies and first responders to assist the homeless. Shelters are also kept open during the day for the safety of clients when temperatures fall below 32 degrees. 

Working with the Pine Street Outreach Team and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, BPHC actively seeks out individuals and helps them find shelter during a cold snap, providing food, clothing, blankets, medical assistance to those in need.

Cold Weather Safety Reminders

• Residents are encouraged to shovel out hydrants and catch basins near or abutting their property to assist our public safety agencies and protect against flooding
• Carbon Monoxide is an odorless and tasteless gas that results from combustion and can quickly become fatal. Residents should clear snow and debris away from mufflers before starting the car and ensure that external vents are cleared of snow. If you are using a generator, make sure it is far enough away to vent air and gases away from the home. A safety video about carbon monoxide poisoning prevention is available here.
• Property owners are required to salt and sand sidewalks, stairs and pedestrian ramps to prevent slippery surfaces.
• Use caution when walking near buildings that may have falling snow or ice.
• Shoveling snow can pose a serious health safety risk to persons with heart disease and senior citizens. Residents should consider seeking the assistance of a family member, a helpful neighbor or hire someone to help.
• Residents are encouraged to check on the well-being of elderly or disabled neighbors, and be mindful of homeless individuals that may need assistance. Should you encounter a homeless individual in need of assistance, please notify public safety officials by calling 9-1-1 or the Mayor's 24-hour Hotline at (617) 635-4500.
• Use caution when using portable heating devices such as space heaters.
• To make your home more energy efficient consider disconnecting the water hose from your home, wrap or cover exposed spigots, caulk or putty windows, ensure kitchen and bathroom dampers close properly, close all storm windows and doors, apply weather stripping, properly insulate all pipes that are exposed, cover vents.
• Additional cold weather safety tips can be found at: www.cityofboston.gov/cold/safety.

Stay in Touch

The Mayor's 24-Hour Hotline is always available to respond to residents with weather-related questions or concerns, including downed power lines, down trees or icy conditions, should call (617) 635-4500.

Residents are encouraged to use the City’s “Know Snow” program for access to other important storm-related information. To receive notifications, register for the City’s Alert Boston network at www.cityofboston.gov/snow. For updates & questions via Twitter, use @NotifyBoston, follow #bosnow.  

National CAPACD Statement of Solidarity with #Ferguson

Statement of Solidarity with #Ferguson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In response to the grand jury decision not to indict Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown, Lisa Hasegawa, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) issued the following statement:

“We stand in solidarity with Michael Brown’s family and friends and express sadness and outrage at the  grand jury decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown.

“On one level, this is an intensely personal and specific tragedy.  For Michael Brown’s family and friends, the grand jury decision is a direct and immediate miscarriage of justice.  An indictment would not have brought back the precious life lost.  But a more fair, full, and open process would have been an important step towards justice and healing.

“On another level, this is a national concern.  The grand jury decision – the lack of due process in the wake of a police shooting of an unarmed, black teenager – is an all too familiar reminder of the persistence of systemic racism and anti-black violence in this country.  While National CAPACD is an organization that advocates for low-income Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, we believe that what is happening in Ferguson is a touchstone moment – a moment that calls on all of us to step out of our familiar roles and communities and demand what is right.   All of us who are concerned about fairness, equity, and social justice need to stand up and, as the Brown family implores in their post-verdict statement, ‘work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.

’“Like our sister organizations such as the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ-AAJC), National Korean American Services and Education Consortium (NAKASEC), South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Network (SEARAC), we urge other AAPIs and AAPI organizations to be visible during this critical moment and to be active in related local movements against racism and for racial justice and social change.”

###

The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development is the first national advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the housing, community and economic development needs of diverse and growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for low-income AAPIs by promoting economic vitality, civic and political participation, and racial equity.

***
Links to Other National AAPI Org Statements on Ferguson:

AAAJ-AAJC

NAKASEC

NAPAWF

NCAPA

SEARAC 

SAALT

CLEAN WATER TRUST ANNOUNCES FIRST “GREEN BOND” SALE

CLEAN WATER TRUST ANNOUNCES FIRST “GREEN BOND” SALE

Release of Preliminary Official Statement on Series 18 Green Bonds

Treasurer Steven Grossman today announced the release of the Preliminary Official Statement (POS) for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust’s first “Green Bond” sale. These bonds will finance approximately $231,095,000* of water infrastructure projects in Massachusetts. The sale will occur during the week of December 8. 

“We’re thrilled to announce the release of information on the Trust’s first ‘Green Bond’ sale,” said Treasurer Grossman. “These bonds will offer investors an option that directly funds environmentally beneficial infrastructure projects right here in Massachusetts.”

“It is exciting that the Green Bond market has developed to support clean water infrastructure.  By providing investors with bonds that meet their investment goals, we are able to create new demand and reduce costs for Massachusetts taxpayers,” said Scott Jordan, Undersecretary for the Executive Office for Administration and Finance.

"I am pleased to present the POS for the Clean Water Trust's first Green Bond issue and our first issue under our new name,” said Sue Perez, Executive Director of the Trust. “This POS provides all the necessary information regarding the Series 18 bond issuance and demonstrates how these bonds qualify as ‘Green Bonds’."

Massachusetts became the first state in the country to offer Green Bonds in 2013, and this is the first time the Clean Water Trust has done such an issuance.  In addition to funding environmentally beneficial projects, Green Bonds appeal to a wider range of bidders, thereby increasing competition and potentially lowering borrowing costs for the Commonwealth.  State officials said the bonds are appealing to pension funds and endowments that are required or choose to dedicate a portion of their holdings to green initiatives, spurring interest among some large institutional investors that might not otherwise buy Massachusetts bonds. 

The Clean Water Trust is working with J.P. Morgan as lead managing underwriter of the Green Bonds.  J.P. Morgan is a leading expert in Green Bonds and one of the banks that drafted the Green Bond principles that serve as a guide for issuers and a standard for disclosure. 

Individual retail investors from Massachusetts will have the first opportunity to purchase these bonds that benefit Massachusetts communities on December 9. For further information on the “Green Bonds,” including the POS please visit www.mass.gov/treasury/affiliated-prog/wpat/bonds/.

The Clean Water Trust provides subsidized loans to cities and towns for clean water and drinking water infrastructure development.  Since its establishment in 1989, the Clean Water Trust has loaned over $6 billion to improve and maintain the quality of water in the Commonwealth.  An estimated 97 percent of Massachusetts’ citizens have benefited from the Clean Water Trust’s financial assistance.

*Preliminary, Subject to change 

TD Garden感恩節辦千人朋友桌 波士頓市長、政要齊為流民打菜

波士頓市內有19,600個座位的體育館TD花園（TD Garden），昨（廿五）日中午在球場內舉辦第十九屆“朋友桌”千人宴，在感恩節期間為流民送溫暖。

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh），波士頓警察局長伊文斯（William Evans)，副局長歐羅基（O’Rouke），麻州參議員安東尼裴卓力（Anthony W. Petruccelli），麻州眾議員麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz)，波士頓市健康及人民服務長小阿若約（Felix Arroyo, Jr.），以及今年十月升任波士頓公共衛生局代理局長的阮惠（譯音，Huy Nguyen）等幾十名要人，分成兩列，為數以千計的無家可歸者打菜，給他們送上一份感恩節大餐。

            TD花園工作人員表示，該體育館成立十九年以來，每年都舉辦“朋友桌”活動。今年他們準備了1200磅火雞，1000磅火雞餡，40加侖肉汁，850磅洋芋泥，500磅紅蘿蔔，100磅青豆，150箱襪子，手套，牙膏等贈品，還請來演唱團隊高歌，在四周桌腳綁上火雞汽球，妝點出節日氣氛。

            曾經擔任華埠A-1區警長，現為波士頓警察局副局長的歐羅基表示，到TD花園為流民打菜，送感恩餐，已經成為大波士頓內的傳統，包括他在內，許多人都每年出席。

            麻州眾議員麥家威也說，自從他當上議員後，就每年出席。昨日他剛從外地休假回來，馬上就加入服務行列。說到感恩節正日，他將如何過時，他透露由於父親仍在杭州行醫，他將到位於北端（North End）的阿姨家和親人團聚。那天早上，他還將和波士頓市長馬丁華殊一起，先到松街客棧（Pine Street Inn）為那兒的流民服務一下。

麻州參議員安東尼裴卓力表示，感恩節是美國人的全家團聚日，那天他將帶著兩名小孩回東波士頓，看望父母，讓父母享受八名孫子女同聚的歡樂。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊這天一到會場，就被記者群圍住追問密蘇里州弗格森（Ferguson）的一名白人警察槍殺了未攜槍黑人青少年，大陪審團判無罪的事。早在大陪審團宣判之前一天，就已發出聲明，希望社區民眾如果要抗議，也要保持和平，冷靜行事的他很無奈的表示，希望波士頓人繼續保持冷靜。

圖片說明：

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）在TD Garden為流民打菜，送上感恩節大餐。（菊子攝）

            麻州參議員安東尼裴卓力（Anthony W. Petruccelli）（右），麻州眾議員麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz)（左）聯袂為劉民服務。（菊子攝）

            今年十月升任波士頓公共衛生局代理局長的阮惠（譯音，Huy Nguyen）也加入服務行列。（菊子攝）

            TD花園準備的感恩節火雞大餐，誘人十分。（菊子攝）

            波士頓警察局局長伊凡斯（William Evans）（右）也夾在感恩節打菜服務行列中。（菊子攝）

            有些耆英聽聞TD花園有感恩節大餐，也來參加，主辦單位來者不拒。波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）也一樣為他們 。（菊子攝）

             TD花園的“朋友桌”感恩節大餐會場，連汽球都是火雞形狀。（菊子攝）

波士頓興年輕人組樂隊 韻及新定義樂隊、海島室內樂團冒出頭

黃韻在九月份的演唱會中演出。
（圖由韻及新定義樂隊提供）

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 大波士頓近年華裔人數節節高漲，增長幅度最大的是學生，其中就讀音樂學院的，還掀起組織樂隊，辦歌唱比賽熱潮。前有劉培藝薩克斯風樂隊，張玹海島室內樂隊，現有“韻及新定義”樂隊。

            由黃韻與友人合組的“韻及新定義”樂隊在九月份舉辦過一次演唱會後，十一月廿九日（週六）晚八點半，將在劍橋市中央廣場，該市最老的爵士俱樂部Ryles Jazz Club，再辦感恩節演唱、演奏會，要讓更多人欣賞到新的中國音樂。

            柏克萊音樂學院的劉培藝和黃韻，和新英格蘭音樂學院張玹，在校期間都很活躍，畢業前後也都成立了樂隊。

            劉培藝曾經率領樂團，應邀為大波士頓各個社團演奏助興，畢業後還在瑞吉路易斯(Reggie Lewis)中心辦了一場專場演奏會，製作了CD出售，才回北京發展。

            一九八九年出生的張玹，來自台灣，原本彈鋼琴，得過不少獎，2013年服完兵役，來新英格蘭音樂學院深造作曲，得到成立樂隊的獎助金，於是和中堀海都合作，邀來在各項大賽中得過獎的小提琴袁泉，鋼琴于澤南，，打擊樂林威震等六人，創辦了“海島室內樂”，十月廿日在新英格蘭音樂學院喬丹廳做波士頓首演，十一月四日又到紐約莫金廳（Merkin

 黃韻與她和友人創辦的“韻及新定義”樂隊。（圖由韻及新定義樂隊提供）

）演出。

“韻和新定義”則是黃韻和20名來自世界各地的音樂人於2013年成立，融合中國元素與現代爵士風的樂隊，既有節奏聲部，也有弦樂，管樂。

張玹（後左三）和袁泉（左一）等人組成了海島室內樂隊。（圖由張玹提供）

從柏克萊音樂學院聲樂部畢業的黃韻表示，她和友人創辦的這樂隊取名“新定義”，就是希望通過重新演繹中國傳統音樂中的佳作，一新世界對中國音樂的看法，要讓人知道，民族的音樂也是世界的音樂。

十九日晚音樂會，購票可上網http://ryles.interticket.com/arrivalorder.php?eid=3078&aid=4&vid=4。

在樂隊之外，唱歌也又成華人圈中掀風潮的活動。六，七年前，在波士頓大學讀書的羅陽，舉辦過“常青舞台K王爭霸“的歌唱比賽。他畢業後赴北京發展，如今在中國組成演歌團隊，成了專業歌手。柏克萊音樂學院的中國學生會，則在上週末和大波士頓地區各高校，以及Z&D音樂公司，摩頓市1986KTV等合作，舉辦了一場“我想唱歌給你聽”華人歌唱比賽。

賴銘琪代表政府感謝羅州助華二戰老兵

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪夫婦十一月廿二日晚赴克蘭斯頓（Cranston）市，參加「羅德島州航空名人堂」（Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame）年度餐會，代表政府向二次大戰期間赴華助戰的已故美國前空軍官兵 Chester J. Wachowicz 致敬。

            賴銘琪致詞時表示，民國政府及人民感謝美國官兵在第二次世界大戰期間赴華助戰，中華民國（台灣）今日已成自由民主社會，未曾或忘他們的犧牲奉獻。他代表政府向Wachowicz家屬致敬及致謝。

            Chester J. Wachowicz 在二戰期間服役於美國航空後勤單位，1944年2月派赴中國大陸昆明，擔任運輸機及轟炸機機工組員，曾於昆明及重慶等地執勤。該部隊當時也為在華美國航空隊提供後勤補給，支援他們的戰鬥任務。

            羅德島州航空名人堂為非營利機構，由前海軍飛行軍官 Frank Lennon 於2003年成立，以表彰該州有貢獻之航空界人士為宗旨。該機構迄已表揚5名二戰期間任職航空兵種赴華助戰之羅州居民。

圖片說明：

賴銘琪處長（左）應邀為羅德島州航空名人堂儀式致詞。右為羅德島州航空名人堂負責人 Frank Lennon。（圖由經文處提供）

賴銘琪處長（右二）與Chester J. Wachowicz家族親友合影。

Statement of Boston Community Leaders

Statement of Boston Community Leaders

BOSTON -- Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh joined a wide list of elected officials, clergy, and community leaders to co-sign the following statement ahead of this evening's community meeting. 

Boston is a City rooted proudly in the spirit of freedom and strength. We strive to be a City where our residents can express themselves, and to engage in meaningful discussion and efforts to improve the most difficult issues in our society.

We recognize Boston's history and celebrate how far we have come, but we are acutely aware of the disparities that we continue to see today. We see them in outcomes in the foundations for success, from education and public health, to housing and jobs. Our city and state government and the agencies we represent are committed to being responsive and relevant, and to facilitating meaningful discussion.

We echo the sentiment of community leaders, elected officials, and clergy nationwide, calling for unity and peaceful demonstrations, and encouraging all to work together to create real, lasting change. Boston can continue a proud tradition of leadership and use this moment as an opportunity to recommit ourselves to uniting for a better Boston.

To view an up-to-date list of co-signers, visit: http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=17884. The list of co-signers will continue to grow, and will be updated on the City of Boston website as names are added.