（Boston Orange 編譯）麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）今（7）日提交書面證詞，支持S.2449/H.3811法案，要求汽車監理處(RMV) 為因公殉職的警察家屬，免費發放紀念性的「藍星家庭」車牌。
麻州州長奚莉說，設立這新車牌是一個小卻意義重大的舉動，藉著彰顯藍星家庭，向為執法失去性命的警察致敬，也向這些家庭表達心意，麻州永遠不會忘記他們家人所做的犧牲。奚莉州長還感謝麻州參議員Tarr和麻州眾議員Walsh為此提案。
麻州警察局局長Geoffrey Noble表示，麻州可藉藍星車牌向400多名因公殉職的麻州警察的家人，表達永久的感激。
麻州汽車監理處處長Colleen Ogilvie說，能用藍星車牌來紀念那些為麻州服務、犧牲了的人，是一種榮幸。他期待法案生效後和藍星家庭合作，向麻州優秀警察致敬。
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| 波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭（左起）請廖朝宏處長夫婦和高家富主任 和黨員們合影。（周菊子攝） |
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| 波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭（右三）和陳家驊（左一），以及嘉賓們， 一起感謝余麗媖（中）、陳台榮（右一）每年為懸掛國旗奔波。（周菊子攝） |
張韻蘭指出，當年國父孫中山為革命籌款，曾經來到波士頓，還住在波士頓洪門致公堂會址，說起來國民黨和波士頓淵源很深。
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| 左起，韓幼文，陳台榮，余麗媖在華埠街頭懸掛國旗有功， 在國民黨慶祝雙十大會中或表揚。（周菊子攝） |
張韻蘭感謝波士頓經文處長官出席慶典，更點名感謝余麗媖，陳台榮，韓幼文等人十餘年如一日，在雙十國慶期間，早早把中美旗幟懸掛在波士頓華埠街頭，湯偉雄也非常熱心的幫了許多忙。她感慨道，其實波士頓有許多說廣東話的國民黨員，例如伍氏宗親會美東副總長伍輝民，藝聯慈善社社長湯偉雄等人，只是礙於語言溝通問題，許多說廣東話黨員比較少參加黨部活動，但大家有心一同。
在典禮環節，波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏和波士頓僑教中心主任高家富應邀致詞。
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| 波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭特地點名感謝一連慈善社社長湯偉雄。（周菊子攝） |
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| 廖朝宏處長體恤的在波士頓常委張韻蘭致詞結束下台時伸手攙扶。（周菊子攝） |
高家富主任接著致詞。他表示中華民國這些年來的成就，人們有目共睹，國家發展委員會定期發布的全球競爭力排名，中華民國一向名列前茅，也都是人們長期努力的結果。這天慶祝中華民國生日，也祝願所有人一起越來越茁壯。
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| 波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭感謝黨員們參加慶祝雙十遊行。（周菊子攝） |
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| 波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏致詞。（周菊子攝） |
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波士頓僑教中心主任高家富致詞。（周菊子攝）
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| 台山鄉親聯誼會請候選名單上的職員和鄉親們見面。（周菊子攝） |
這天有將近200名會員出席投票。開票結果為黃偉健、黃绍培、陳晶年、甄锦民、陳美得票高居前五名。新當選的23人中，只有趙娟，彭力為新人。
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| 台山鄉親聯誼會會長黃紹培（又）請鄉親們一起謝謝張青梅（左）。（周菊子攝） |
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| 台山鄉親聯誼會顧問鄺元傑報告章程修改的新增條款。（周菊子攝） |
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| 右起，副會長陳晶年，會長黃紹培和顧問鄺元傑一起，請會員填表投票。（周菊子攝） |
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| 台上提問，台下舉手回應。（周菊子攝） |
關於理事會部分，也新增條款，在正副會長及職員之外，設立名譽會長與顧問，可在理事會開會時列席，提供意見，但無表決權。
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| 第11屆台山鄉親聯誼會職員選選選票。 |
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| 紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝致詞，告訴台山鄉親，波士頓市議員 Ed Flynn曾和中華公所合辦會議，提醒華埠民眾，華埠牌樓‘進來 常有人非法販售食品、贓物，千萬小心，別購買。（台山鄉親會提供） |
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| 89歲的鄺元傑（左）和80歲的歐陽綺堂（右）都已在 台山鄉親會服務十幾，二十年。（周菊子攝） |
台山鄉親會這次的章程修改，還新增了第七章限制與遵循，第七章下新增第26， 27， 28三項條款。包括協會任何盈餘不得分配給會員、理事、或職員，惟可支付合理報酬。協會不得從事大量遊說或立法影響活動，不得參與或干預任何政治競選，僅能從事符合聯邦稅法第501 (C) (3)條規定之活動。協會活動與服務應以公益為木的，惠及大波士頓及新英倫地區華人及廣泛社區。理事、職員及主要僱員應揭露與協會有財務利益之交易，並於相關決策中迴避。
新增的最後一項是第31條的解散條款，規定協會解散時，資產須分配給符合美國聯邦稅法第501 (C) (3)條之免稅機構，或交由政府作公益用途。
2025年的中秋正日是陽曆10月6日，台山鄉親聯誼會在5日這天，為鄉親們安排了蝦仁腸粉，鹹水角，夾心菠蘿麵包，糯米雞，牛肉丸等點心，還送給每人一個月餅。（更新版，新增一張圖片）
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| 台山鄉親聯誼會送用餅給每名出席活動鄉親。 |
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| 台山鄉親出席中秋聚會。 |
Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Massachusetts’ Progress on
Expanding College Affordability and Equity
DARTMOUTH – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today celebrated the launch of Go Higher, a new brand and awareness campaign designed to inspire more students to go to college by highlighting Governor Maura Healey’s efforts to make community college free and expand financial aid at public four-year colleges and universities. Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega visited UMass Dartmouth to speak with students, educators, and community leaders on how the state’s investments and multitude of initiatives are breaking down barriers and opening more doors to higher education across Massachusetts.
“Massachusetts is leading the way in proving that higher education can be both excellent and affordable,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Through Go Higher and the work of the ACARE Council, we are showing students and families that college is within reach and that we are committed to success for every student and their families.”
“Our administration is laser-focused on making sure every student in Massachusetts can see themselves in college, through free community college, more affordable four-year pathways, early college experiences, and more,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “The progress we are celebrating today is about giving all young people the tools, guidance and financial support they need to achieve their dreams.”
The event also coincides with the opening of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-2027 post-secondary academic year. This federal form is required for students to be eligible for certain federal and state financial aid, including free community college and opportunities to attend the state’s public four-year universities without paying tuition and fees. Certain eligible students who cannot submit a FAFSA may submit a Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) to apply for state financial aid. Students and families can learn more about FAFSA/MASFA by visiting Mass.Gov/FinancialAid.
“The Go Higher campaign and the ACARE implementation plan are about more than policy — they’re about students and families,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “With Go Higher as the unifying brand and ACARE as the guiding framework, Massachusetts is ensuring that higher education is not just accessible, but transformative for all students.”
“Advancing equity in higher education requires building awareness of college-going opportunities, a crucial component highlighted in the ACARE report,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “Go Higher is part of our efforts to close information gaps and make sure students know Massachusetts is investing in historic financial aid programs to help make college possible for them.”
“We want all Massachusetts students, including recent high school graduates and adult learners, to understand that they have an affordable path to a college degree,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “We are proud to work with the Department of Higher Education to increase access and equity.”
"The Go Higher campaign is a great way to let students and families know about all the financial aid support that is available to make public higher education more affordable,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their expansion of the MassGrant Plus program, which has bolstered our affordability initiatives at UMass. We’ve worked hard to ensure a world-class UMass education remains affordable and accessible.”
“I want to express my gratitude to the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the legislature, and partners across the Commonwealth for prioritizing higher education through initiatives like Go Higher,” said UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark A. Fuller, PhD. “When we invest in students, we are investing in the future—strengthening our communities and driving a vibrant economy. Public support ensures that UMass Dartmouth students have access to the advising, financial aid, mental health resources, and academic opportunities that enable them to thrive.”
“I am grateful for the public funding that has allowed me to attend UMass Dartmouth tuition-free,” said Graham Kratochwill, a junior majoring in Human Resources Management. “Not having to worry about all the financial issues makes it easier to focus on my studies, graduating, and starting my career.”
The Go Higher campaign builds on the report the administration released a year ago centered on increasing access, equity, and support for historically underserved and underrepresented students across Massachusetts. This report was crafted with the administration’s Advisory Council to Advance Representation in Education (ACARE) that had been launched in 2023 ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action.
Massachusetts’ college access and affordability accomplishments under the Healey-Driscoll Administration to-date:
Increase Exposure and Access to Higher Education for K-12 Students
· The administration hosted a Financial Aid Road Show, a five-week tour to eight high schools across Massachusetts, engaging hundreds of students to encourage FAFSA/MASFA completion and highlight nearly $400 million in available state financial aid.
o The Financial Aid Road Show coincided with the administration’s “College is Possible” ad campaign, which ran from late February to mid-May. The campaign targeted high school seniors and adult learners across Massachusetts with billboards and TV, radio, and digital ads in English and Spanish that highlighted financial aid opportunities.
· The administration launched the Go Higher brand and communications effort to raise awareness about the full suite of affordable higher education pathways, from free community college, free and more affordable four-year opportunities, grants, scholarships, loan forgiveness, tuition waivers, and in-state tuition.
· The administration awarded nearly $1 million in MyCAP grants to 135 schools in 49 districts across Massachusetts to help them adopt the My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP), in addition to technical assistance and coaching to support planning and implementation.
· The administration has approved 36 new early college programs, supporting more than 10,000 students in the 2025-26 school year, with the goal of providing Early College access to as many as 22,000 students by the end of the decade. Early college gives thousands of Massachusetts high school students the chance to earn free, transferable college credits before graduation.
o New data shows that 66 percent of Early College graduates immediately enroll in higher education after high school, with the majority enrolling at a public college or university in Massachusetts.
o Once enrolled in higher education, former Early College students are also persisting - with 87 percent staying in college through a second term and 82 percent returning to college for a second year.
· Massachusetts continues to support access to Advanced Placement and subsidized 57,552 AP exams for low-income students over the past two years, supporting continued gains of Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino students who take an AP exam, as well as last year seeing the state’s highest percentage ever of Massachusetts students scoring a 3 or higher on an AP exam and the highest in the nation for the second year in a row.
· The administration has expanded Innovation Career Pathways to 82 more high schools, adding 132 additional pathways for students and created a Clean Energy pathway.
· The administration has approved 49 new career technical education (CTE) programs, supporting 2,334 additional students, and opened an application for $60 million in CTE program capital grants to add 2,000 more.
Re-engage Adult Learners and Encourage Participation in Higher Education
· The administration awarded $24.2 million in Career Technical Initiative (CTI) implementation grants to 23 school districts to train 2,490 individuals for careers in high-demand occupations within the trades, construction, and manufacturing sectors across Massachusetts.
· The administration has leveraged state and federal funds to award more than $10 million in apprenticeship grants and launched apprenticeships for early childhood educators and k-12 educators.
Implement Innovative Recruitment, Admissions and Enrollment Policies
· The administration released joint guidance with the Attorney General’s Office that provides information on legally compliant ways that educational institutions can continue to meaningfully and successfully achieve the worthy goals of diverse and equitable student bodies consistent with state law, Title VI, and the U.S. Constitution.
· DHE launched the legislatively created MassTransfer Steering Committee that is charged with advising DHE on the creation, implementation, and improvement of the MassTransfer program to allow for a more efficient credit transfer system among public IHEs. This also includes exploring a common course numbering system with the goal of creating transparency for credit transferability.
· Sixteen colleges and universities in Massachusetts now offer direct admission to students (Curry College, Dean College, Fisher College, Hampshire College, Lasell University, Lesley University, Merrimack College, Nichols College, Regis College, Salem State University, UMass Boston, UMass Lowell, Western New England University and Westfield State University).
Improve Equity in Financial Aid and Enhance Support for Historically Underserved and Underrepresented Students and the Institutions that Serve Them
· Financial aid access has grown substantially, with the state’s commitment nearly doubling over the past two years. Massachusetts’ Fiscal Year 2026 budget invests approximately $400 million in state financial aid programs.
o This funding continues investments that made community college free, public four-year colleges and universities tuition and fee free for low-income students (those who qualify for federal Pell Grants) and cut out-of-pocket costs in half for middle income students; and continue offering need-based financial aid to students attending private institutions.
o Last year, all Massachusetts low-income students eligible for federal Pell grants had their college tuition, mandatory fees, books and supplies paid for by state and federal financial aid.
o The administration’s MassGrant Plus expansion made all full and part-time Pell Grant students eligible for MASSGrant Plus and allowed enough funds for all qualifying students to be awarded the grant.
o MassReconnect has enabled enrollment growth across every racial and ethnic group of adults age 25 or over. Over the two-year period from Fall 2022 to Fall 2024, Hispanic or Latino students experienced the highest increase at 57 percent, followed by Black or African American students with an increase of 43 percent, and white students with a 33 percent increase.
· Following the launch of the administration’s MassGrant Plus Expansion at state public universities, several Massachusetts’ private colleges and universities have lowered tuition and fees and/or made attendance tuition and fee free for low-income students (e.g., Tufts University, Harvard University, MIT, The College of Holy Cross, Mount Holyoke College, Lasell University, Brandeis University, and Bay Path University).
· DHE launched the legislatively mandated Commission on Higher Education Quality and Affordability to review and make recommendations on higher education assistance programs and funding, student costs and debts during and after attending universities, programs that improve student success, improvements needed to increase recruitment and retention of faculty and staff; and financial assistance program design and models to efficiently increase state assistance, improve outcomes and reduce student costs.
Increase Persistence and Completion for Historically Underserved and Underrepresented Students in Higher Education
· The state awarded $28 million in SUCCESS funding at community colleges and state universities last year, aimed at increasing graduation rates, particularly among historically underserved students. That was the first year that state universities received this funding, which was continued again this year.
