March 21, 2025 | Vol. 54, Issue 6

The only bilingual Chinese-English Newspaper in New England

Features

Don’t Throw Away That Yogurt Yet: Sampan Interviews Expert on Confusing Sell-by, Use-by Dates

Say you’re grabbing a bottle of milk from the fridge, and see its expiration day passed three days ago. It smells fine, but is it safe? The answer isn’t always clear. In many parts of the world, expiration dates are a familiar sight on a variety of foods, particularly those that are perishable such as meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy. The dates play a crucial role in influencing consumer behavior and managing store inventory. But the dates are not always […]

Advocates Welcome, Criticize Census Category Revisions  Some Say Changes Could Reduce Responses From Those Who Feel Un-Represented

Written in bland and unassuming language, newly released policy changes to how the U.S. government and Census categorizes some racial and ethnic groups could have an immeasurable impact on  Americans of Middle Eastern and North African descent, and other minority groups, say immigrant advocates. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget published on March 28 a set of revisions to “Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity.” This revision added […]

2024 Boston Marathon Shows ‘One Boston’ Spirit

The city of Boston on April 15 held its 128th Marathon, bringing tens of thousands of runners from all over the world to the city in a show of grit and athleticism. Since its first race, the status of the Marathon has gained high esteem from the worldwide competitive running community, something that is apparent in the increase of participants throughout the decades. The first Boston Marathon, held in 1897, had a participant-list that included only 18 people; in 2022, […]

What August Moon Means to Me:

Three Community Leaders Reflect on the Summer Celebration Editor note: It’s that time of the year, where the August Moon Festival serves as a reminder for all of us that the greatest riches are within our grasp. We cherish friends, embrace family, give grateful thanks, and offer humble prayers for a bountiful future. The August Moon Festival is a rich tradition that harkens back to simpler times while also adapting to changing environments and our constantly evolving sometimes difficult days. […]

In Memory of Former South Cove Community Health Center Director Eugene Welch

Editor’s Note: Eugene Welch, CEO/Executive Director of South Cove Community Health Center for 23 years until his 2022 retirement, passed away Monday May 29 at the age of 78. Sampan is re-printing our October 2022 Eugene Welch profile/interview. We asked Eric Tiberi, SCCHC’s new CEO/Executive Director, for a few words about Mr. Welch’s legacy and the future of the Center going forward. Eugene Welch was a mentor, friend, and supporter to all of us at South Cove Community Health Center.  He had an […]

Tufts University Organizes Chinatown Neighborhood Spring Cleanup

On Wednesday, May 10, Tufts University hosted its 3rd annual Cherish Chinatown Cleanup, a spring neighborhood cleanup in Boston’s Chinatown, the home of the university’s Health Sciences Campus. Over one hundred Tufts students, faculty, and staff volunteers participated in the effort, picking up trash, working on landscaping projects and cleaning up sidewalks, all while learning more about the neighborhood and ways to continue or begin involvement with local nonprofit community partners.   With the support of Tufts University’s office of Government and […]

Preventing a Global Water Catastrophe- One Drop at a Time

The earth’s demand for fresh water will outstrip supply by 40% in 2030. This warning comes from The Global Commission on the Economics of Water as we continue to consume water without caution. The World Meteorological Organization also reported in November 2022 that “climate-related shortages in water resources could affect two thirds of the world’s population by midcentury. Complicating these frightening predictions is the fact that extreme rainfalls and flooding are among the consequences of global warming that will likely […]

Tufts Initiative Helps Fund Chinatown Organizations

On Monday, February 27, 2023, Tufts Medical Center hosted a community benefits reception to bring community partners together to meet or re-connect with one another, learn about each other’s efforts, share best practices, and collaborate on initiatives that will improve the health of the community for years to come. Tufts MC awarded grants to 20 community partners, including 5 based in Chinatown, who will support and uplift Boston residents with programs focused on behavioral health, access to care and services, […]

WHAT WILL WE DO ABOUT GUNS?

Gun control legislation is once again on the table after two mass shootings in a week, one in Uvalde, Texas and another in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In a primetime address on June 2, President Biden called on Congress to take immediate action on gun control. He offered several potential policies, including bringing back the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that expired in 2004. If such a bill could not be passed, Biden said, the age to buy certain weapons could at least […]

The Second Juneteenth Holiday in Massachusetts: What does it mean to the general public?

Sunday, June 19, 2022, will be the second annual Juneteenth Independence Day recognized as a Massachusetts state holiday. On Thursday June 17, 2021, the Juneteenth Day became a federal holiday in the United States when President Joe Biden signed into law a bill passed by Congress. Almost at the same time, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker also officially recognized June 19 as the newest state-recognized holiday. Juneteenth National Independence Day is important to African American in our nation because of the […]

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