僑委會委員長吳新興訪波士頓強調服務不分藍綠

僑委會委員長吳新興(左五)等人與中華公所幹部何穎。左起，歐宏偉，張文華，雲雯蓁，賴銘琪，

陳家驊，蔣宗壬，陳銘俊，李翠屏，陳文浩，翁宇才。(周菊子攝)

僑委會委員長吳新興(左)送給紐英崙僑界一幅"匡持共榮"書法，由

中華公所主席陳家驊(右)代收。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 僑委會委員長吳新興6月13日到訪波士頓，發言強調不分藍綠，只看是否支持自由民主的台灣，並贈送”匡持共榮”掛軸給紐英崙中華公所，期許本地僑界與中華民國政府攜手同行。

當晚在餐會上，紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊代表僑胞們送上簽了名的”支持中華民國及自由民主的台灣”四點共同聲明做回應。

            吳新興這次出訪，到巴西，阿根廷，以及美國的亞特蘭大，波士頓，紐約等五個城市，並將出席本週末在紐約舉行的北美洲台灣商會聯合總會理監事年會。

            13日傍晚，他在駐波士頓台北經文處處長賴銘琪陪同下抵達紐英崙中華公所會議廳。近百名僑胞已聚坐一堂，等著歡迎他。

紐英崙至德三德公所送禮物給宗親，僑委會委員長吳新興(左二)。

左起翁宇才，吳新興，吳皓，黃周麗桃。(周菊子攝)

            這是吳新興第一次到波士頓。他強調，雖然台灣現在是民進黨執政，但僑委會政策不變，一貫支持僑界的穩定發展，不論僑胞們的政黨，政治立場如何，只要是堅定中華民國，堅定支持自由民主的台灣的僑胞，都是僑委會的服務對象。他指台灣如果無法維持自由民主，全球華人都會損失巨大，因為台灣會發揮力量影響、轉變共產黨走上自由民主之路。台灣2300萬人的目標就是實現國父孫中山的三民主義。

            吳新興在發言時說明，他父親是安徽人，母親是不會講廣東話的廣東人，他是在台灣出生的台灣人，自己會講廣東話是因為當年在澳大利亞讀書時，班上女同學是廣東人。

陳毓璇，黃景佩夫婦，丹鳳琴，陳文珊，鄺劍峰夫婦。(周菊子攝)

            以國語，廣東話發言後，吳新興還特地說明他代表蔡英文總統問候僑胞，更以英文指出，蔡英文是世界上少數的幾名女總統之一，非常傑出的亞洲女性。

            在中華公所的歡迎會上，吳新興姓氏所屬的至德三德公所，由元老翁宇才，曾任美東副總長的黃周麗桃，以及紐英崙現任主席之一的吳皓等人聯袂送上一幅字，以藏頭詩點出”吳新興佳”。

波士頓僑界歡迎僑委會委員長吳新興。(周菊子攝)

            歡迎會後，吳新興在經文處長賴銘琪，僑教中心主任歐宏偉，中華公所主席陳家驊，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬陪同下，到華埠街道巡視一圈，在華埠牌樓前留影。

            晚上在龍鳳酒樓舉行的僑界歡迎餐會，各僑團代表近400人參加。委員長吳新興親自頒發感謝狀給協助僑教中心辦活動的許多個人及僑團。                                                                                   由於大波士頓僑胞對經文處，僑教中心的支持，吳新興在中華公所致詞時還特地說明，僑委會今年一定邀請紐英崙僑界今年再次組團回台灣訪問，並拜會總統。

左起，張文華，陳銘俊，蔣宗壬，陳家驊，吳新興，賴銘琪，陳文浩，
陳偉民，歐宏偉等人在華埠牌樓前留影。(周菊子攝)

            

吳新興(右三)巡視波士頓華埠。(周菊子攝)

吳新興(中)參觀華經會的平安居。(周菊子攝)

僑委會委員長吳新興(左四)，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右一)
和李氏公所主席李奇舜(右四)等人合影。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華專業人員協會。

波克來台灣商會。

僑委會委員長吳新興(左)頒發感謝狀給波克來台灣商會顧問游勝雄(右)
等個人及團體，(周菊子攝)

中華公所。

安良工商會。

李氏公所。

至孝篤親公所。

波士頓國民黨。

紐英倫婦女新運會。

黃氏公所。

紐英崙余風采堂。

中文學校。

紐英崙至德三德公所。

紐英崙中華專業人員協會。

港澳之友社。

紐英崙昭崙公所。

美東公安會。

潮州同鄉會。

左起，歐宏偉，蔣宗壬，陳毓璇，僑委會委員長吳新興，黃景佩，
賴銘琪，陳家驊。(周菊子攝)

右起，歐宏偉，陳家驊，賴銘琪，雲雯蓁，黃景佩，僑委會委員長
吳新興，陳毓璇，蔣宗壬，史美芳，陳銘俊，張文華。(周菊子攝)

Governor Baker, State Housing and Transit Officials Break Ground on Transit-Oriented “Open for Business” Property in Beverly

Governor Baker, State Housing and Transit Officials Break Ground on Transit-Oriented “Open for Business” Property in Beverly

112 Rantoul Street brings 67 units of new housing to formerly vacant downtown parcel

 

Click here to download photo

BEVERLY – Today, Governor Charlie Baker joined state housing and transit officials, local municipal officials and private sector development partners to break ground on 67 mixed-income, transit-oriented rental housing rental units adjacent to the Beverly Depot Commuter Rail station and garage.

The formerly vacant site on a MBTA-owned parcel will include 16 workforce housing units affordable to middle-income households, representing the first major shovel-ready redevelopment property under the Baker-Polito Administration’s “Open for Business” Real Estate Asset Leveraging (REAL) Strategy and an investment of MassHousing’s $100 million Workforce Housing Initiative, announced last year as a commitment to the creation of up to 1,000 new workforce housing units.

“Across Massachusetts, our administration is breaking ground on unused state property to build stronger communities and drive local economic growth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This new development will transform a vacant parcel at a commuter rail station into a promising new transit-oriented housing community for working families. We look forward to continuing to partner with communities, and the private sector, to unlock growth, create new jobs, and build the housing Massachusetts residents need to prosper.”

Governor Baker was joined by Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, MBTA Acting General Manager Brian Shortsleeve, MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan, Beverly Mayor Michael P. Cahill, and the real estate development firm Barnat Development. Barnat Development’s 112 Rantoul Street brings new mixed-income rental housing and commercial space to Beverly’s downtown. Construction on the $22.4 million project is expected to be completed in July 2018.

“This groundbreaking showcases our efforts to deliver new community development opportunities to cities and towns, and to spur the creation of new workforce housing,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By generating new mixed-income housing that will be affordable for working families, this project will help build a stronger, more vibrant downtown for the community of Beverly.” 

In addition to new housing in Beverly, Open for Business is enabling the construction of new housing at MBTA-owned parcels in Mattapan Square, North Quincy, and at the Greenbush commuter rail station in Scituate. The Open for Business Initiative is also partnering with municipalities to deliver new age-restricted housing in North Reading and Westborough State Hospital, and is transforming the former Worcester State Hospital into a new biotech manufacturing campus. To date, the Open for Business Initiative has enabled the development of roughly 2,000 new housing units.

“A year ago this month, a developer saw potential in this parcel during a tour organized by the city and community leaders,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Jay Ash. “The Mayor’s vision combined with Governor’s leadership through the Open for Business initiative and through partnerships with our local and state, and quasi partners, were able to quickly come together and make this workforce, transit-oriented development happen.”

“With the encouragement and support of Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development are working together to make targeted investments that are win-wins for families, communities, and the Commonwealth’s budget,” said Secretary Stephanie Pollack. “Transit oriented development gives members of the public easy access to jobs, educational opportunities, business districts and entertainment.”  

“Transit-oriented development continues to be a top priority for the MBTA with 112 Rantoul Street an excellent example of how partnerships with the private sector promote public transit and local economic growth,” said MBTA Acting General Manager Brian Shortsleeve. “The MBTA looks forward to providing convenient, reliable Commuter Rail service for those who live and visit 112 Rantoul Street.”

MassHousing is supporting the development of 112 Rantoul Street with a total of $2.2 million in financing, including $1.6 million from MassHousing’s Workforce Housing for 16 units fund affordable to middle-income households earning between 80 and 110% of area median income (AMI). Since Governor Baker opened the fund last May in 2016, at an event in Lynn, MassHousing has committed or closed workforce housing financing totaling $33.5 million, to 14 projects, located in 10 cities and towns. To date, the Workforce Housing Initiative has advanced the development of 1,285 housing units, including 363 workforce housing units.

“MassHousing’s Opportunity Fund is accelerating the development of mixed-income housing in Massachusetts, and creating affordability for working families that wouldn’t otherwise be possible,” said MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan. “We are pleased to partner with Barnat Development and the City of Beverly to help deliver well-located housing that provides new economic opportunities to moderate-income residents.”

In addition to MassHousing funds, 112 Rantoul Street is being financed by Boston Private Bank and Trust Company, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation’s Healthy Neighborhood Equity Fund. The Healthy Neighborhoods Equity Fund is a $30 million private equity fund created by the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC) and the Conservation Law Foundation to finance transformative, transit-oriented development in Massachusetts.

“This project is a perfect fit for our Healthy Neighborhoods Equity Fund,” said Joe Flatley, President of MHIC. “It will create new housing and jobs, help revitalize the neighborhood, and strengthen community and environmental health in Beverly. We are pleased to partner with Barnat Development, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Beverly and others involved to help translate their vision of a transformative project into reality.”

“Boston Private has a deep commitment to community investment and the 110-114 Rantoul Street initiative is the type of workforce housing and economic development opportunity that we are proud to support,” said Clay Deutsch, CEO, Boston Private Bank and Trust. “We’re very pleased to provide the lead construction financing in conjunction with Wellesley Bank, and feel privileged to be part of this transformative development in a neighborhood that will create new housing, jobs and important services in the community.”

“The Barnat Development on Rantoul Street is a great example of a successful partnership between the Commonwealth, the developer, and the community to bring a well designed transit oriented development (TOD) to our downtown,” said Beverly Mayor Michael P. Cahill. “TOD projects revitalize downtowns creating much needed work force and market rate housing while supporting downtown businesses, employers, and providing easy access to the train.”

“I am thrilled to celebrate this ground-breaking ceremony with so many partners in the public and private sectors that made this new construction project possible in just ten short months from MBTA designation,” said Sarah Barnat, President and Founder of Barnat Development. “My dedicated development team including ICON architecture, NEI Construction, Krokidas & Bluestein and many others have provided the skill and expertise to achieve this important milestone. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for an exciting ribbon-cutting next summer.”

About Barnat Development:

Sarah Barnat founded Barnat Development in 2016 with the specific goal of developing high-quality mixed-use developments near public transportation and in walkable downtowns. Barnat Development is a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE).

About MassHousing:

MassHousing (The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency) is an independent, quasi-public agency created in 1966 and charged with providing financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts. The Agency raises capital by selling bonds and lends the proceeds to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, and to developers who build or preserve affordable and/or mixed-income rental housing. MassHousing does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it administers some publicly funded programs on behalf of the Commonwealth. Since its inception, MassHousing has provided more than $20 billion for affordable housing. For more information, visit the MassHousing website at www.masshousing.com, follow us on Twitter @MassHousing, subscribe to our blog and Like us on Facebook.

AG HEALEY AWARDS GRANTS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN, MINORITY WORKERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

AG HEALEY AWARDS GRANTS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN, MINORITY WORKERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

 BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today announced that her office is awarding $90,000 in grant funding to organizations across the state to promote equal opportunity for women and minority workers and small business owners in the construction industry.

The Equal Opportunity in the Construction Trades Grant program is providing funding to non-profit organizations, apprenticeship programs, labor unions, and vocational schools to conduct worker training and outreach programs..

“The construction industry provides good-paying jobs for thousands of Massachusetts residents,” said AG Healey. “These grants will help diversify the industry and expand economic opportunity for women and minority residents.”

“We are pleased to see the Attorney General’s Office use this settlement in this way to support initiatives that will help promote diversity in the construction industry,” said Greg Beeman, President of the Massachusetts Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors. “This funding will help woman and minorities enter an industry that offers meaningful, long-term careers and good, family-supporting wages.”

According to a 2014 report by the National Women’s Law Center, women represent nearly half of the workforce but hold only 2.6 percent of all construction jobs nationwide. There are more than 7.6 million men working in the construction industry and only 206,000 women.

“Building Pathways is pleased to be the recipient of a Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Equal Opportunity in Construction Trades Grant,” said Mark Vogel, the executive director of Building Pathways. “The funding will support our efforts to create opportunities for low-income, low-skilled Boston area residents, particularly in under-served communities, to access and prepare for building trades apprenticeships and careers in the construction industry. Through apprenticeship preparedness training, outreach to young adults, and advocacy, Building Pathways provides the critical link between greater Boston’s diverse communities and access to family-sustaining careers that empower individuals and strengthen our communities.”

“Southeastern is excited to be a grant recipient of the Equal Opportunities in Construction Trades Grant,” said Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical High School Superintendent Luis G. Lopes. “Funds will help with activities for our ‘Non-traditional Careers Outreach Program’ which will support and enhance our continuing effort to serve students seeking non-traditional educational programs and occupations. These activities include informational sessions for middle school students and their parents, establishment of a non-traditional student and careers program for our high school students, and trips to post-secondary trade schools, technical institutes, and apprenticeship programs.

The AG’s Equal Opportunity in the Construction Trades Grant program will provide funding to the following organizations:

·         Building Pathways, Inc. (Roxbury): The apprenticeship program, sponsored by the Building and Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan District in partnership with the Action for Boston Community Development and the Boston Housing Authority, will conduct outreach and recruitment and provide occupational training and career coaching to low-income minority workers in the Greater Boston Area.

·         Community Labor/United Northeast Center for Tradeswomen’s Equity (Boston): The nonprofit organization will hire a “pipeline navigator” to coordinate outreach for information sessions and workshops geared toward assisting workers seeking apprenticeship programs and construction jobs.

·         Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical School District (South Easton): The vocational school district will create an outreach program that will include an open house for parents and students, field trips to construction job sites for students, and participation in the Girls in Trades and SKillsUSA conferences.

·         Worcester Roots (Worcester): The nonprofit organization will reach out to formerly incarcerated individuals and minority workers about jobs in the construction industry. The organization will also create a construction and trade opportunities grant resource guide and hold trainings for union officials and chambers of commerce on best practices for engaging with underrepresented communities in the workforce.

·         YouthBuild Boston (Boston): The nonprofit organization will expand its 12-week pre-apprenticeship program and focus its outreach efforts on focus on female and minority workers in Roxbury, Mattapan and Dorchester.

·         Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School (Fall River): The vocational school district will train HVAC and electricity students in its Build Your Future Program, which targets women and minority students.

·         YWCA of Western Massachusetts (Springfield): The organization will enroll 28 women in construction skills training.

The grant program utilizes funds from a settlement the AG’s Office reached with construction companies over allegations of falsely certifying compliance with equal opportunity requirements. 

            This is one-year grant program that will run through May 31, 2018.

BOSTON LAUNCHES "5TH QUARTER OF LEARNING," A GROUNDBREAKING PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL USE CITY AS A CLASSROOM FOR ENRICHED SUMMER EXPERIENCE

BOSTON LAUNCHES "5TH QUARTER OF LEARNING," A GROUNDBREAKING PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL USE CITY AS A CLASSROOM FOR ENRICHED SUMMER EXPERIENCE

Mayor Walsh, BPS Reallocate $2 million to Proven, Innovative Approach

Photos from the Mayor's Office are available here. BOSTON - Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh joined Boston Public Schools (BPS) and community leaders today to launch the "5th Quarter of Learning," building on Boston's groundbreaking public-private summer learning initiative in an effort to ensure more students than ever before gain access to the area's rich tapestry of natural, cultural, and higher education resources. The enhanced initiative, unveiled today by Mayor Walsh and BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang, will engage 2,200 high-need students in an innovative approach that blends rigorous academic learning with hands-on enrichment. Students, for example, can engage in sailing, archery, salsa dancing, and tennis while building critical thinking, perseverance, and teamwork skills. An additional 10,000 Boston students will enroll in a network of 110 summer learning programs, all focused on the same measures of program performance and skill development.    "A student's education shouldn't stop at the end of the school year when the '4th quarter' of learning closes," said Mayor Walsh. "To make sure our students don't fall behind, they must learn year-round. This summer, Boston is looking to become a national leader with an innovative '5th Quarter' approach that inspires real-world learning. This is a groundbreaking effort, backed in solid research and with many of Boston's greatest partners on board, to help ensure its success for Boston students and families." Based on recent national research from RAND showing the significant academic benefits of this approach, BPS is re-envisioning traditional summer school by allocating $2 million, which includes funds from Boston After School & Beyond, to support 31 school and community sites selected through a competitive process. The city will serve as a classroom for students as they engage in academic content with BPS teachers in enriching settings such as Zoo New England, Hale Reservation, Courageous Sailing, the New England Aquarium, Simmons College, and Thompson Island. "Blending enrichment such as arts, sailing, outdoor science and oceanic expeditions through our 5th Quarter initiative brings learning alive for students year-round," said Superintendent Chang. "We know that when rigorous learning is engaging, it goes a long way toward closing opportunity and achievement gaps. This summer programming opens doors for students to explore a world beyond their own and realize the possibilities that are within their reach." "Rigor and engagement go hand in hand," said Chris Smith, executive director of Boston After School & Beyond, which helps fund and manage the citywide initiative with the City and school district. "When we engage young people in stimulating settings, they can develop and practice the skills they will need to succeed in college, career and life." A wide body of research shows that, on average, students lose knowledge and skills over the summer months, and that this phenomenon - known as "summer slide" - has a disproportionate, cumulative effect on low-income youth. BPS and Boston After School & Beyond developed the 5th Quarter with local programs, schools, and funders to reverse this trend. "We are so grateful to have these types of innovative learning opportunities for our students," said Jason Gallagher, principal of the Harvard-Kent Elementary School in Charlestown, which collaborates with Courageous Sailing and Massachusetts General Hospital on summer programs. "Many of our partners are right here in our own backyard. It's wonderful to be a part of a true community effort to provide our students with the best possible interactive learning experiences over the summer." A national study based on a randomized controlled trial, conducted by RAND and funded by The Wallace Foundation in Boston and four other cities, revealed that students who had at least 80 percent attendance in academic summer programs outperformed the control group in math and reading on fall tests and on the subsequent spring MCAS exams. Participating students also gained an advantage in social and emotional skills in the fall after the second summer. "The 5th Quarter enables us to engage young people who need the most help," said Alexandra Oliver Dávila, a Boston School Committee member and executive director of Sociedad Latina, a Mission Hill nonprofit that serves predominantly Latino students. "After five weeks, many students become leaders who approach learning with new purpose." Representative Alice Peisch filed House bill 2868 to expand Boston's 5th Quarter approach statewide, with cities and local partners sharing in the cost. The Joint Committee on Education reported out the bill favorably to the House Committee on Ways and Means in May. The 5th Quarter grew out of the Boston Summer Learning Project, which was launched in 2010 by Boston After School & Beyond and the Boston Public Schools, with support from the Boston Opportunity Agenda, and raised over $10 million to develop, research, and scale the model. Boston families still seeking programming for summer 2017 are encouraged to visit partnerbps.org/summer for a full listing of school and community summer programs.

Governor Baker Nominates Attorneys Randle, Goodwin to Courts in Western Massachusetts

Governor Baker Nominates Attorneys Randle, Goodwin to Courts in Western Massachusetts

BOSTON—Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Ellen M. Randle of East Longmeadow to serve as an Associate Justice of the Probate and Family Court, Hampden County Division, and Karen L. Goodwin of Amherst to serve as an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court. Randle has 32 years of legal experience and concentrates her practice in family law, probate disputes, and civil litigation; Goodwin's 31 years at the bar have focused on trial work in both the private and public sectors.

“Attorney Randle and Assistant U.S. Attorney Goodwin have, over the last three decades and throughout their impressive careers, demonstrated a strong commitment to serving Massachusetts’ families and their communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am confident Attorney Randle’s and Assistant U.S. Attorney Goodwin's experience will serve their respective courts well.”

“I am pleased with the nominations of two well-respected and skilled women attorneys from Western Massachusetts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, their respective courts and communities will benefit greatly from Attorney Randle’s and Assistant U.S. Attorney Goodwin's judgment and wisdom.”

The Probate and Family Court Department has jurisdiction over family-related and probate matters such as divorce, paternity, child support, custody, parenting time, adoption, termination of parental rights, abuse prevention and wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and changes of name.

For more information on the Probate & Family Court, visit: http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/pfc/

The Superior Court is a statewide court of general jurisdiction - handling both criminal and civil actions.  The court’s 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth.  The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000, and in matters where equitable relief is sought.  It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, has exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, has appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town.  The court has exclusive original jurisdiction of first degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes.

For more information about the Massachusetts Superior Court, visit http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/sc/

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February, 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April, 2015.

About Ellen M. Randle

Ellen Randle currently serves as a partner at Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP. Randle began working for the firm in 1984 as an associate before becoming a partner in 1991, focused on handling divorces, adoptions, and other proceedings in the Probate & Family Court. Additionally, she has worked on appellate matters and served as an appointed Discovery Master in several cases. Attorney Randle started her career in 1983 as a Law Clerk to Chief Judge Andrew A. Caffrey of the United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, in Boston. Randle graduated cum laude from Boston College Law School in 1983 and magna cum laude from Tufts University in 1980, studying political science and history. She currently lives with her family in East Longmeadow.

About Karen L. Goodwin

Karen Goodwin has served as an Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Springfield since 1991, handling both civil and criminal litigation.  She started her legal career in 1984 as a litigation associate at Day, Berry and Howard in Hartford, CT, after working for six years as a newspaper reporter in Arkansas and Connecticut. She is active in the Springfield Schools Volunteers program, providing academic support to public school students.  Goodwin graduated magna cum laude from the University Of Connecticut School Of Law in 1984 and from Oberlin College in 1976, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and history. She has lived in Springfield and Longmeadow and now resides in Amherst.  

波士頓台僑也為中巴建交感憤怒

              (Boston Orange)六月十三日，中國與巴拿馬簽署建交公報，中華民國的邦交國，又少一個。國際社會因傳說中國給出30億美元無息貸款，備加關注此事。大波士頓僑胞則和曾駐波士頓的現任外交部長李大維一樣感到憤怒。一些曾為學子，今是僑胞的年輕人，開始更深入研究台灣的國格。

              波克萊台灣商會顧問，來波士頓三十多年，也開公司生產電子零件三十多年的郭競儒表示，聽到這消息時，真的是既覺遺憾，又感憤怒，不懂中國大陸為什麼選擇做這種與促進兩岸良好關係完全相反的事，也不滿巴拿馬罔顧與台灣100多年情誼，忘記了台灣一直那麼慷愾的提供金錢及技術援助。她認為在這情況下，僑胞與台灣同胞們更應該堅定，團結支持中華民國，支持自由民主的台灣，全民共體時艱的維持尊嚴，絕不妥協的走自己的路。

              郭競儒坦言，她來美多年，在美經商，客戶中也有中國大陸公司。雖然中巴建交，對她的公司及生活影響不大，但到底台灣是她的家鄉，這件事提起來就讓人憤慨。

              來自香港，現任紐英崙中華公所主席的陳家驊，近年來在許多場合都強調民主，自由。談及中巴建交一事，他直言不諱表示反對中共對台灣的高壓政策。他認為中共應該對台灣用懷柔政策，爭取民心，才能讓大家都認同自己是炎黃子孫，中華兒女，兩岸人民其實有著血濃於水的關係。他表示，打壓只會引人反感，理念也和九二共識背道而馳。

              一些來自台灣的年輕人，對中巴建交，台灣邦交國又少一個，只剩下20個，很可能越來越少這現象，也都感慨十分，一方面對中國大陸打壓台灣的國際空間感到憤怒，一方面討論起台灣本身有著”妾身何屬”的問題，台灣的國格，國家地位到底是建立在有幾個邦交國的數目上，還是建立在其他事務上。過去這些年來的大環境，台灣經常以經濟體形式出現在國際社會中，和東德、西德，南韓、北韓，越南、越共等的處境都不一樣。

美国南加州侨界隆重庆祝香港回归20周年

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美国南加州侨界隆重庆祝香港回归20周年

http://www.aacyf.org/?p=7452

在香港回归20周年之际，美国港澳之友会牵头召集南加州侨界在洛杉矶中国隆重庆祝香港回归20周年，中国驻洛杉矶总领事馆副总领事王雷，南加州当地多个城市的华裔副市长、市议员，出席了当天的庆祝活动。

庆祝活动的大会主席李锦生表示，这是第一次在洛杉矶华埠举行大型的香港回归庆祝活动。海外华人本著爱祖国、爱家乡的理念，对香港回归在中国历史上、具有祖国统一、民族復兴意涵的重要里程碑纪念日，感触最深，为香港回归感到欢欣鼓舞。20年来香港同胞与祖国人民团结合作，取得了令世界瞩目的成就。

庆祝活动执行主席、美国港澳之友会会长陈灿培介绍，港澳之友会於1991年在洛杉矶成立，自发由1999年起，每5年举办庆祝港澳回归中国宴会。本次庆祝活动花费了一个月的时间筹备。

当天的庆祝活动还举办了华裔知名收藏家陈灿培提供的李小龙图片及杂志展；精彩的中式双节棍大破日本浪人武士刀；特别礼聘艺人黄嘉程（模仿香港知名歌星张学友）的演出。2016年中华小姐环球大赛的友谊小姐黄嘉欣、美国亚裔小姐冠军钟天慧等也应邀参与晚宴。

当晚的500名来宾中，以来自香港的移民占绝大多数。出席庆祝活动的华裔民选官员也大部分是来自香港的移民，基本上都是以粤语交流。

由于历史原因，早期在洛杉矶华人，有相当比例是来自家乡在广东、先到香港、再辗转来到美国定居的移民。目前在各行业都有一批杰出的香港移民代表。而这些在海外的香港移民对于祖国的发展、以及自身的族群认同，则有其特别强烈的感受，对于香港回归、国家强盛，感到特别的自豪和骄傲。（AACYF洛杉矶讯）