紐英崙中華資訊網路協會慶廿週年 創辦人回巢

左起，容志誠，陳五福，吳錦城，宋利偉的代表郭明，許基康，邱瑞賢，尹南鷹，王雷的兒子，王義明，陸德禮，寧可，陳君瑤，沈心焯，洪銘勝，鄭茹，王振榕。（周菊子攝）

前排右起，陳五福，容志誠，吳錦城夫婦，何曙光，高玲平。後排
左起，尹南鷹，寧可，陳君瑤，沈珊，王義明。（周菊子攝）

            (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州伯靈頓鎮報導) 紐英崙中華資訊網路協會（NECINA）上週末在麻州伯靈頓鎮萬豪酒店（Marriott）探討“科技及生活品質”，慶祝成立廿週年，展望未來要拓展關注層面，加強培育年輕世代。

網協兩名榮譽主席陳五福（右），吳錦城（左）憶想廿年前的合作，
開懷而笑。（周菊子攝）

            會上，均已遷居加州的兩名網協創會前輩期許未來。創辦人陳五福希望朝四方面努力，一追蹤業界趨勢，二改善生活、健康品質，三拓展關注層面，四期許網協將來成為“創業者的偉哥”，能夠增強人們的創業慾望，表現及滿意度。榮譽主席吳錦城期盼以整體社會為著眼點，加強培育年輕世代。

在大波士頓華人專業社團中，網協是規模最大，組織力最強的組織之一。創辦人陳五福從“瀑布（Cascade）通訊”開始，一連創辦了Cameo通訊，Xinwei電信等十幾家公司，幾乎一半以上的出售或併購價都數以億元計，吳錦城創辦的”箭點“也被思科（Cisco）以60億美金收購等事蹟，一直都讓網協頭頂光環，會員們向心力極強。

左起，尹南鷹夫婦，陳君瑤，王振榕，許基康夫婦，杜星望，邱瑞賢
舉杯慶祝網協廿歲生日。（周菊子攝）

            廿年來的歷任會長，除了已過世的宋利偉由妻子代表，人在中國的王雷由兒子代表，以及未克出席的余鴻，陶東斌之外，許基康，邱瑞賢，尹南鷹，王義明，陸德禮，寧可，陳君瑤，沈心焯，洪銘勝，鄭茹，王振榕等歷任會長，當晚全都在座，和創會時就已加入的李秀貞，章學原，沈珊，歐陽翊，杜星望等共二百多名會員，駐紐約總領事館科技參贊邢繼俊等到賀者同歡，場面十分溫馨。

網攜歷屆會長、嘉賓舉杯同慶。（周菊子攝）

網攜會長王振榕（右）卸任，田田接任。（周菊子攝）

6月18日下午，網協還為年會舉辦了講座，安排該會榮譽主席吳錦城，現任主席容志誠，IDG-Accel中國成長基金創辦人周全，NetBrain創辦人高玲平，會鴿（EventDove）創辦人常軍，Aldephic Mobile創辦人林淑華（Jennifer Lum)，MNL合夥人Mathew Nordan，麻州創新夜創辦人Bobbie Carlton等8名講者，從不同角度闡述“科技和生活品質“。晚上的頒獎晚會由陸德禮，李天舒，沈心焯主持。

會上的頒獎，包括創辦人陳五福頒獎給榮譽主席吳錦城，董事會主席榮智成頒獎給卸任會長王振榕，青少年創業項目執行任鄭敏等人。

許基康夫婦（左）邀Empatica創辦人，MIT媒體實驗室教授Rosalind
W. Picard夫婦出席網協廿週年慶。（周菊子攝）

麻省理工學院媒體實驗室教授，Empatica公司創辦人Rosalind W. Picard在投資人許基康邀請下，擔任晚會主講人，介紹Empatica所發展，可偵測，分析人類情緒，在疾病發生前預作防治準備的新技術。

            網協會長王振榕當晚做年度報告後交棒，副會長田田接任、升正。

網協幹部合影。（周菊子攝）

網攜早年幹部合影。（周菊子攝）

網攜主席容志誠（左）頒獎給卸任會長王振榕。（周菊子攝）

網攜美女走旗袍秀。（周菊子攝）

中國駐紐約總領事館科技參贊邢繼俊致詞。（周菊子攝）

寧可（左起），王義明等人跳天鵝舞。（周菊子攝）

網攜青少年創業項目參與者。

網協幹部合影。

北美中華醫學會的錢志榮（右起），朱正倫，倪健，范曉舵等人和KPMG
合夥人麥永芬（左二）等人都是網協廿週年慶嘉賓。（周菊子攝）

MAYOR WALSH TO RECOGNIZE JUNE AS ALZHEIMER'S AND BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH

MAYOR WALSH TO RECOGNIZE JUNE AS  ALZHEIMER'S  AND BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH

BOSTON - Tuesday, June 21, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh will recognize June as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month with an event on City Hall Plaza on Wednesday, June 22. The event will run from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, and Mayor Walsh will attend to meet with organizers and observe a moment of silence to honor those living with Alzheimer's disease. Staff from the Elderly Commission and the Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter will invite the public to wear purple and write a purple message of hope and remembrance on the "Reason to Hope" chalkboards. They will also be hosting a table with resources for residents with Alzheimer's and their caregivers, providing information and signing people up for the Greater Boston Walk to End Alzheimer's in September. Nationwide, more than five million people are living with Alzheimer's disease, including 10,000 Boston residents that live with the disease.

MASSACHUSETTS CONSUMERS TO RECEIVE NEARLY $9 MILLION IN REFUNDS FROM E-BOOK PRICE FIXING SETTLEMENTS

MASSACHUSETTS CONSUMERS TO RECEIVE NEARLY $9 MILLION IN REFUNDS FROM E-BOOK PRICE FIXING SETTLEMENTS Consumers Nationwide to Receive $400 Million as a Result of Successful Litigation against Apple, Inc.

BOSTON – Massachusetts residents who purchased electronic books (E-books) will begin to receive additional account credits or checks this week as a result of the successful prosecution of a price-fixing case against Apple, Inc., Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

In total, consumers nationwide will receive more than $400 million after the United States Supreme Court denied Apple’s request to review the decision of a lower court finding Apple had violated antitrust laws. Of that amount, Massachusetts consumers are expected to receive approximately $9 million in restitution.

“Consumers who were forced to pay higher prices as a result of the price-fixing and collusion among these competitors will finally get the relief they are due,” AG Healey said.  “This outcome sends a clear message that these kinds of practices are unfair to consumers and violate our antitrust laws.”

In July 2013, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that Apple conspired with five major U.S. Publishers - Hachette Book Group Inc., HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Simon & Schuster Inc., Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC, d/b/a Macmillan, and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. – to raise the retail prices of E-books, in violation of federal and state antitrust laws.

In June 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed that ruling. And in March 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Apple’s request to review the Second Circuit’s decision.

The nearly $9 million in restitution is in addition to the approximately $5 million dollars that was paid to Massachusetts consumers starting in March 2014 as a result of previous settlements with Macmillan, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., Hachette Book Group Inc., HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C., and Simon & Schuster Inc.

Whether a consumer receives a credit or a check depends upon the retailer from which the relevant e-books were purchased; for some retailers it also depends upon whether a claim was properly filed or whether the consumer specifically requested a check. Eligible consumers are asked to review emails from their e-book retailer, or from the Settlement Administrator, regarding account credits or checks.   

The amounts received by E-book purchasers will be based on the number of E-books purchased between April 1, 2010 and May 21, 2012. For each E-book that was a New York Times bestseller, consumers will receive $6.93. For all other E-books, the payment will be $1.57.

For more information on the settlements, please visit www.ebookagsettlements.com.

This case was handled by William Matlack, Chief of Maura Healey’s Antitrust Division and Kyle Barr, Paralegal and Economic Analyst, also in the Antitrust Division.

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $28 Million in Community Development Block Grants

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $28 Million in Community Development Block Grants

57 communities set to receive flexible funding for housing, infrastructure and community services

BOSTON – Today the Baker-Polito Administration awarded 34 Community Development Block Grants, totaling $28 million, to a total of 57 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. The Community Development Block Grant program provides competitive funding that allows municipalities to pursue economic development projects, and support the needs of low- and moderate-income residents.

“Our assistance to municipalities is most effective when it provides flexibility to directly support their established goals,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Community Development Block Grants provide for investment in wide-ranging improvements that will bring long-term, positive impacts in these communities.”

This year’s Community Development Block Grant awards will allow municipalities across Massachusetts to redevelop housing and local infrastructure, and provide for a variety of social services, including childcare assistance, elder services and domestic violence prevention programs.    

“Residents across the Commonwealth will see marked improvements in the livability of their communities through these Community Development Block Grant awards,”said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These awards will help further progress at the local level, and allow municipalities to pursue a bright future for their community.”

The CDBG awards this year will support numerous efforts to support and improve access to housing and services across the Commonwealth. Funds will provide for housing rehabilitation for almost 300 units, along with infrastructure improvements across communities. Awards will also support improvements to a community center in North Adams, provide youth leadership, family literacy and elder services to families in Montague, facility improvements to West Springfield’s Boys and Girls Club, fund a fuel assistance program in Winchendon and Ashby, among many other projects.

“Ensuring municipalities have the resources to invest in housing, infrastructure and social services is crucial to the future of Massachusetts,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “Community Development Block Grants directly support economic growth and community development and empower communities to tackle challenges with home-grown solutions.”

“The Community Development Block Grant program provides flexible funding that complements local aid and increases coordinated local action,” said Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay. “Continued, comprehensive partnerships between the state and municipalities are vital to meet the Commonwealth’s needs for affordable housing and our shared vision of a livable, affordable Massachusetts.”

Massachusetts’ Community Development Block Grant Program is a federally funded, competitive grant program designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs. Assistance is provided to qualifying cities and towns for housing, community, and economic development projects that assist low and moderate-income residents, or by revitalizing blighted areas.

Project Awards and Descriptions:

ABINGTON and WHITMAN will receive $800,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 20 units of housing, and to support a food pantry.

AMESBURY and MERRIMAC will receive $967,953 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 20 units of housing, and for food pantry support and emergency homelessness services.

AMHERST will receive $825,000 for Boltwood Walk accessibility improvements, Health Center HVAC improvements, Housing Authority modernization projects, and to provide services related to homelessness, after-school and literacy programming, youth mentoring and family stabilization.

ATHOL will receive $593,022 for infrastructure improvements to Grove and Main Streets, and to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 5 units of housing.

BERNARDSTON, ROWE and GILL will receive $1,000,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 18 units of housing, and to provide a fuel assistance program.

CHELSEA will receive $825,000 for improvements to Hawthorne Street, housing rehabilitation assistance for 8 units of housing, code enforcement, a housing study and social service assistance to include after school/summer programs, ESOL, homelessness prevention and citizenship training.

CHESTERFIELD, CUMMINGTON, GOSHEN, PERU, PLAINFIELD, WESTHAMPTON and WORTHINGTON will receive $894,110 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 13 units of housing, and to provide childcare assistance, elder services and a food pantry.

CLINTON will receive $749,635 for infrastructure improvements to Nelson Street, housing rehabilitation assistance for 8 units of housing, and to provide elder services.

DENNIS will receive $825,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 17 units of housing, childcare vouchers for approximately 50 families, and financial literacy training.

EASTHAMPTON will receive $800,000 to provide improvements in the Admiral Street neighborhood, and for housing rehabilitation assistance for 3 units of housing.

EDGARTOWN, WEST TISBURY and GOSNOLD will receive $805,714 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 15 units of housing, and childcare vouchers to approximately 30 families.

EVERETT will receive $825,000 for public facilities infrastructure improvements, housing rehabilitation assistance for 5 units of housing, microenterprise assistance to 8 businesses, and social service assistance to include elder self-sufficiency, homelessness prevention, ESOL, youth services and a food pantry.

FAIRHAVEN will receive $695,551 for Housing Authority parking improvements, and infrastructure design services.

GARDNER will receive $825,000 for public facilities improvements, housing rehabilitation for 3 units of housing, downtown planning services, and to support homebuyer education and job training and domestic violence services.

GREENFIELD will receive $825,000 for housing rehabilitation assistance for 9 units of housing, infrastructure improvements to School Street, and to support a food pantry, youth and elder services.

HARDWICK will receive $796,836 for infrastructure improvements to Prospect and Broad Streets, municipal building accessibility improvement design, and domestic violence prevention services.

HOLBROOK and ROCKLAND will receive $710,496 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 16 units of housing, and to provide a fuel assistance program.

HUNTINGTON, MIDDLEFIELD and CHESTER will receive $753,226 for infrastructure improvements to Pleasant Street, a senior center feasibility study, housing rehabilitation assistance for 7 units of housing, and to provide senior services, adult education, a food pantry and domestic violence prevention services.

METHUEN will receive $812,825 for sidewalk improvements in the Arlington neighborhood, housing rehabilitation assistance for 8 units of housing, and to support adult literacy, youth services, elder services and childcare assistance.

MONTAGUE will receive $816,263 for housing rehabilitation assistance for 4 units of housing, lighting improvements to Avenue A, and to provide youth leadership, family literacy and elder services.

NORTH ADAMS will receive $825,000 for improvements to a community center, park improvements, a historic properties inventory, and social services.

OAK BLUFFS and TISBURY will receive $782,495 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 15 units of housing, and childcare vouchers for approximately 55 families.

PALMER will receive $807,862 for infrastructure improvements to Stewart Street, to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 4 units of housing, and to support financial literacy and domestic violence prevention services.

SHEFFIELD and GREAT BARRINGTON will receive $923,983 to provide housing rehabilitation for 14 units of housing, Sheffield Town Hall accessibility improvements, and design for new sidewalks and for circulation, drainage, and parking capacity improvements at the Housatonic Community Center.

SHELBURNE, BUCKLAND and COLRAIN will receive $961,382 for improvements to North Street (Buckland), to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 5 units of housing, and to support a food pantry.

SOUTHBRIDGE will receive $825,000 for infrastructure improvements at Overland Street, to support the rehabilitation of a public building, and for commercial rehabilitation assistance for 3 signage and awning upgrades in the downtown target area.

SOUTHWICK and GRANVILLE will receive $900,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 9 units of housing, infrastructure improvements at Veteran Street, and a food pantry.

TRURO, PROVINCETOWN and WELLFLEET will receive $756,952 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for 12 units of housing, and childcare vouchers for approximately 33 families.

WARE will receive $800,000 for infrastructure improvements to Prospect Street, for design services for Bank and Spring Street improvements, and to support for domestic violence prevention services.

WAREHAM will receive $825,000 for housing rehabilitation assistance for 9 units of housing, for a slum and blight study for Onset, for street design at Wareham Village, and to support for a food pantry, homelessness prevention, at-risk youth, and domestic violence and transportation services.

WARREN, HARDWICK and WARE will receive $724,000 for School Street neighborhood design, housing rehabilitation assistance for 14 units of housing, and for support services related to adult education, community health, and domestic violence prevention.

WEBSTER will receive $825,000 for infrastructure improvements to Tracy Court and Davis Street, and for housing rehabilitation assistance for 10 units of housing.

WEST SPRINGFIELD will receive $825,000 for improvements to Memorial Playground, housing rehabilitation assistance for 11 units of housing, code enforcement, Boys and Girls Club facility improvements, and support for services related to family self-sufficiency and homebuyer programs, ESOL, camp scholarships and Head Start.

WINCHENDON and ASHBY will receive $1,000,000 for improvements to Walnut Street, housing rehabilitation assistance for 12 units of housing, and for a fuel assistance program.

Governor Baker Raises Concerns over Potential Ban on American Lobsters

Governor Baker Raises Concerns over Potential Ban on American Lobsters

Letter to European Commission Cites Possible Impact to North American and Commonwealth Fishing Industry, Economy

BOSTON – June 21, 2016 – Today, Governor Charlie Baker sent a letter to the European Commission’s Director General of Environment voicing concern over the Swedish Ministry of Environment and Energy’s recently submitted risk assessment which stands to result in a potential ban on the importation of American lobsters to the European Union.

In his correspondence, Governor Baker highlighted the detrimental economic impacts a ban would have both on North America and the Commonwealth’s commercial fishing industry. Citing the trans-Atlantic lobster trade as being valued at closely $196 million a year and accounting for nearly one-fifth of all United States lobster exports, Governor Baker told the Director General, “Both North America and Europe benefit from the market and this potential ban could create a significant disruption for New England lobstermen.”

Elaborating upon the harmful economic impacts of any such prohibition, Governor Baker informed European officials, “The economic impacts of a ban on the importation of American lobsters will be significant for U.S. and Canadian fishermen, seafood distributors here and in Europe, and to European customers.”

Further, to rebuke the assertions contained in the Swedish Ministry of Environment and Energy’s evaluation, Governor Baker highlighted the recent work of Massachusetts’ leading lobster biologists. Utilizing findings from a multi-agency, comprehensive review of Sweden’s risk assessment, Governor Baker reiterated that, “the invasive threat from American lobsters is minimal, and likely not consistent with the Swedish Ministry’s conclusion.”

Building upon a commitment to the Commonwealth’s vital commercial fishing industry, Governor Baker encouraged the European Commission to “consider the findings of the multi-agency report and to engage in a productive dialogue with our deferral partners to continue the responsible transatlantic trade of live American lobsters.”

七名麻州政客競選經費比參選總統的川普還多

(Boston Orange)在美國的選舉，選票固然重要，競選經費更舉足輕重。今年美國總統大選的兩黨候選人，在競選經費上有天壤地別的差距，甚至麻州本地，都有7名從政者，競選財庫比共和黨總統候選人川普（Donald Trump）還豐厚。

波士頓環球報26日的一篇報導指出，共和黨美國總統候選人川普的截至六月初可用現金，只有大約130萬元，民主黨的美國總統候選人希拉蕊（Hillary Clinton）則有4200萬元，距離相當不小。

麻州有好幾名政客和幾名最近宣布退選的美國總統參選人，競選財庫也都比川普大。

這些人包括，聯邦參議員沃倫（Elizabeth Warren），財庫內有$3,636,707。麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker），有 $3,584,038。聯邦眾議員尼爾（Richard Neal），有 $2,727,433。聯邦眾議員約瑟夫甘迺迪三世（Joseph Kennedy III），有$2,191,028。聯邦參議員馬基（Ed Markey）有 $1,949,611 。波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）有 $1,484,458。麻州副州長白莉朵（Kathryn Polito）有$1,474,867。

這些政客的財庫金額記錄，聯邦政府層級的是截至3月底的數目，州及市府層級的是截至6月15日的數目。

就連已經不再是民選代表，曾於1993年至2007年間擔任聯邦眾議員，如今是麻州大學系統總校長的馬丁米罕（Marty Meehan），都有比川普還大的選舉財庫，截至3月31日還有 $4,356,437。

            原本和川普角逐提名的幾個共和黨參選人，手裡藏金量也比川普高，截至5月31日止，克魯茲（Ted Cruz），有$6,839,595，卡森（Ben Carson）有 $1,785,123。

            民主黨還未宣佈退選的山德斯（Bernie Sanders），截至5月31日，也有$9,235,391。

            有些人認為，川普的競選獻金錢不多，顯示了他準備不周，在挑戰希拉蕊上處於不利地位。其他人則說，川普少花錢，少聘員工的競選模式，已被視為有效率的做法。

Catalyst Introduces Waterproof Case for 12.9” and 9.7” iPad Pro and Limited Edition Apple Watch Case at CE Week in New York, Booth 261

- Expanded U.S. Distribution to Include Retail Partners Best Buy, WestMarine and InMotion Entertainment

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NEW YORK– June 21, 2016 – Catalyst, the manufacturer of the world’s most protective and versatile iPhone cases and waterproof accessories, will introduce the Catalyst case for the 12.9" iPad Pro, the only fully functional waterproof, everyday case in the world for this device, at CE Week in New York.

Catalyst is also announcing Catalyst Exclusives, a collection of special edition products available for a limited time on www.catalystcase.com. Featured products include a premium aluminum version of the award-winning Catalyst case for the Apple Watch. Made of premium materials with an anodized aluminum case, supple adjustable wrist strap with matching signature rotating crown dial and button, it perfectly complements the Apple Watch and makes it waterproof to 5ATM.  Catalyst Exclusives will also feature a limited edition version of the Catalyst Waterproof Sleeves in a translucent white waterproof shell with a quilted orange inner organizer.

“Catalyst is continuously designing and developing new solutions to keep ahead of the demand for fashionable and functional solutions that protect Apple products in almost any environment,” said June Lai, CEO of Catalyst Lifestyle. “CE Week brings out the top tier tech enthusiasts, journalists and buyers, who are looking to Catalyst for the latest in our space.  We’re bringing the first waterproof solutions on the market for the 12.9” iPad Pro in the form of a Catalyst waterproof case and a Limited Edition Catalyst waterproof sleeve and are very excited to unveil the new Limited Edition Apple Watch cases. We are excited to get these great new additions into the hands of customers this summer.”