麻州將建全美最大種大麻廠 參眾議會暫緩大麻上路

      (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)前兩天才為麻州將建全美最大的大麻工廠高興的人，這會兒得等一年再高興了。麻州議會12月28日修訂提案，決定把零售大麻的第一張證照，延遲到2018年7月再發。

      藥用大麻在美國，原本一向是加州走在前頭，去年麻州選民才剛藉選票問通過大麻合法化，今年12月就傳出AmeriCann這家公司要在麻州建造的種大麻廠，規模遠比加州大，麻州的將是全美最大大麻州，立即引起各方關注。

      或許正是因為這樣的關注，麻州參眾議會在12月28日這天決定，延緩牌照發放討論6個月。雖然大麻合法化的新法，已於12月15日生效，但是待細則條文確定，廠商真的可以申請銷售大麻時，可能已是2018年4月了。

      參眾兩會打算召開多個會議，討論一旦大麻合法化上路後，該訂立些什麼樣的管制條款。

      因為這一行動，麻州財政廳廳長高柏珂(Deb Goldberg)可以等到2017年9月，再組成管轄大麻種植，銷售的”大麻管制委員會(Cannabis Control Commission)”。

加州在藥用大麻上，一向走在美國前端，2015年的毛收入已達28億元，估計2020年時還可高達65億元。加州最大的種大麻工廠G Farms今年(2016)6月也宣佈，要在沙漠溫泉(Desert Hot Spring)鎮上，建造一個佔地10萬平方呎，包括在7畝地上有3個溫室的大麻工廠。

和來自科羅拉多州AmeriCann公司的計畫一比，加州G Farms的計畫黯然失色。

AmeriCann執行長Tim Keogh表示，2017年3月，要在Freetown建造一個佔地53畝的大麻工廠。那是該公司今年秋季以447萬5000元買下的100萬平方呎Canna企業園，要在那建效率更高的溫室，檢測實驗室，研發訓練中心，企業辦公室。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Seafood Marketing Program Partnership with Massachusetts Farm to School

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Seafood Marketing Program Partnership with Massachusetts Farm to School

BOSTON – December 28, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF)’s Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program has partnered with the nonprofit Massachusetts Farm to School Project to promote the consumption of local seafood in schools.

“The Massachusetts commercial fishing and seafood industries provide delicious food and employment for thousands of people in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This is a great connection to make and we look forward to the partnership between Massachusetts fishermen and farm-to-school programs to provide the Commonwealth’s children with fresh, nutritious seafood products that support cognitive development.”

“Increasing sales of local seafood to schools will not only help find new markets for Massachusetts fishermen, but will also address the critical issue of access to healthy food, and introduce future consumers to the benefits of incorporating seafood into their diet,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The Baker-Polito Administration is proud to launch this initiative that will both help keep our children healthy, and support the Commonwealth’s vital fishing industry.”

During the two-year partnership, the partners will promote seafood as part of Massachusetts Farm to School’s Massachusetts Harvest of the Month campaign, hold a series of local seafood cooking demonstrations for institutional food service providers, and offered a seafood focus track at the Massachusetts Farm & Sea to Cafeteria Conference in November 2016.

“This partnership helps DMF better increase awareness and preference of Massachusetts seafood to support the Commonwealth’s seafood industry and communities by reaching schools, universities, and hospital food service staff, educators, and families though Massachusetts Farm to School’s network,” said DMF Director David Pierce.

The Baker-Polito Administration launched the Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program in August 2016 to increase awareness and demand for local seafood products and support Massachusetts’ fishing and seafood industries.

“Promoting a joint venture of locally produced seafood, fruit, vegetables, and other produce is not only a great way to support fishermen and fishing families the port communities that support the seafood industry, it also reduces environmental impacts of transporting foods long distances, gives a real boost to our quality of life and it promotes a healthy diet,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “This partnership between harvesters of the land and sea will bring good nutrition to our students and yield many benefits including a greater awareness of the excellent results of Massachusetts produce.”

“The Farm to School program has been immensely successful in the Commonwealth and including locally sourced seafood into the mix is a necessary and welcome progression,” said State Representative Paul Schmid III (D-Westport), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.  “I am thrilled to see that the Baker-Polito Administration is further promoting seafood products here in Massachusetts while providing schools with fresh, local food.”

“The Farm to School Project was discussed at our Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Steering Committee meeting earlier this month.  I am delighted to see this official partnership facilitated by the Baker-Polito Administration,” said State Representative Susan Gifford (R-Wareham).  “Massachusetts seafood is some of the best in the world and locally sourced seafood will be a healthy and delicious addition to menus across the Commonwealth in our schools.”

Massachusetts Farm to School is a statewide organization that strengthens the connections that communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by influencing food purchasing and education practices at schools. In October 2016, Governor Baker declared October as Massachusetts Farm to School Month to support Massachusetts’ farm to school programs and the Massachusetts agricultural industry.

“We are very excited to add seafood to our successful Harvest of the Month campaign as the featured item for the month of May,” said Simca Horwitz, the Eastern Massachusetts Director of the Massachusetts Farm to School Project. “Over 150 K-12 schools, colleges, and hospitals in Massachusetts are participating in the campaign, which we expect to translate into at least 800,000 servings of locally caught seafood just during the month of May. We hope this can be the starting point for sustained purchases of local seafood by institutions across the Commonwealth.”

Click here for more information about the Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program. Find more information about Massachusetts Farm to School and the Harvest of the Month campaign here.

AG HEALEY ISSUES ADVISORY ON MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE, INFORMATION TO BE AVAILABLE IN 14 LANGUAGES

AG HEALEY ISSUES ADVISORY ON MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE, INFORMATION TO BE AVAILABLE IN 14 LANGUAGES

Minimum Wage Set to Increase to $11 on Jan. 1, 2017

            BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey is reminding the public and employers in Massachusetts about the increase in the minimum wage that is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. The AG’s Office has updated its wage and hour poster that employers are required to display. It will be available in 14 languages and in formats that employers, workers, members of the public, and organizations can access. 

“We are advising people about the minimum wage increase so that employers are aware of their obligations under the law and so that workers know their rights,” AG Healey said. “Through education, outreach, and enforcement actions where appropriate, we will continue our work to protect the economic security of Massachusetts workers and their families.”

In July 2014, the Legislature passed the first increase to the minimum wage since 2008. Pursuant to that legislation, effective Jan. 1, the minimum wage will increase to $11 per hour.

Also effective Jan. 1, tipped employees (those who receive more than $20 a month in tips) must be paid a minimum of $3.75 per hour, provided that, with tips, the employee receives at least $11 per hour. If the total hourly rate for the employee, including tips, does not equal $11, then the employer must make up the difference.

Hard copies of the AG’s Wage and Hour poster will be available in Chinese, English, Haitian Creole, Khmer, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. To request a copy, please visit www.mass.gov/ago/fldposter or call (617) 963-2250. Additionally, the following languages will be available to print on the AG’s website: Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

The Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division enforces laws that protect workers, including minimum wage, payment of wages, overtime, tip pooling, child labor, Sunday and holiday premium pay, and the public construction bid laws.

The Division has broad powers to investigate violations and enforce these laws through criminal and civil actions. The Division protects employees from exploitation, prosecutes employers who are failing to follow state wage and hour laws, and sets a level playing field for law-abiding employers. The AG’s Office ensures that strong economic growth and fairness for workers go hand-in-hand.

In September, AG Healey issued the first-ever Labor Day Report on her office’s efforts to combat and prevent wage theft. The report shows that in fiscal year 2016 alone, the office recovered $3.8 million in restitution and penalties on behalf of working people in Massachusetts.

To increase resources available to victims of wage theft, the AG’s Office is working with community partners, law schools, and private bar attorneys to host free monthly wage theft clinics at Suffolk Law School. These clinics are part of an effort to address wage theft and worker exploitation among vulnerable populations, including low wage and immigrant workers in the state. The goal of the clinics is to help workers get the wages and benefits they deserve. More than 70 workers have attended the first three clinics and received assistance with a range of wage theft issues. The next clinic is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2017. For more information on these clinics, please click here.

The AG’s Office has also revamped its workplace rights website with a new design and innovative features, including searchable public data and content in various languages. The new easy-to-navigate website allows workers to better understand their rights and for employers, their obligations under state law.

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace can also call the office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465. More information about the state’s wage and hour laws is also available in multiple languages atwww.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor.

楊信宜古箏學生冬季音樂會 1/14

2017年楊信宜古箏學生冬季音樂會將於1月14日﹝星期六﹞下午二時正假Town Center of Bedford, Union School Room (2nd Floor) 舉行，學生將以獨奏形式演繹傳統與現代曲目，展現學習成果，活動公開免費，歡迎愛樂的朋友前往欣賞。地址：12 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA 01730，查詢電話：617-782-3000﹝楊老師﹞、shinyi2007@gmail.com。

吳新興：台灣技職教育歡迎僑生前來就讀

僑務委員會委員長吳新興（第一排中）、僑生處處長莊瓊枝（第一排
右三）、財團法人海外信用保證基金董事長林寶惜（第一排左三）
與參與僑僑生技職專班招生及輔導工作經驗分享會各校人員合影。

僑務委員會委員長吳新興27日在僑生技職專班（俗稱3+4）招生及輔導工作經驗分享會開幕式表示，台灣要輸出優秀技職教育，鼓勵東南亞僑生來台就學，創造雙贏局面。

吳新興表示，僑委會除了推動海青班，並於103年開始擴大辦理3+4僑生技職專班，鼓勵僑生來台學得一技之長並取得學位，將來回到僑居國能開創事業，也可留在台灣貢獻所學，希望各校互相合作，擴大招收僑生。

吳新興指出，僑生教育是僑務工作最大成就之一，許多東南亞國家各行各業領袖人才都是留台校友。僑生教育推動一甲子以來，已培育超過12萬名的留台校友。他表示，許多僑生來自馬來西亞，期許未來能擴大招收越南、緬甸、菲律賓的僑生。另外，政府現正推動「新南向政策」，他也要求各校深入瞭解東南亞各國國情，吸引華僑子弟來台就學，並給予僑生關懷及輔導。

僑委會辦理僑生技職專班，至今有5所學校參與，明年將擴大為15所學校共襄盛舉。為了讓新參與之學校瞭解相業務，於27日舉辦工作經驗分享會，邀請同德家商、成功工商、莊敬高職、萬能工商、中山工商、三信家商、方曙商工、東泰高中、高苑工商、協志工商、六信高中、大德工商、大慶商工、樹德家商、華德工家及正修科大出席。

財團法人海外信用保證基金董事長林寶惜到場，說明提供建教僑生專班就學貸款業務，各校並進行經驗分享，也邀請外交部領事事務局、內政部移民署及新北市政府教育局人員到場座談。

State Officials Announce Continued Partnership to Promote Electric Vehicles

State Officials Announce Continued Partnership to Promote Electric Vehicles

Program Will Result in Consumer Awareness and Adoption of Electric Vehicles in the Northeast

BOSTON – December 27, 2016 – State energy and environment officials today announced the award of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to assist in further collaboration between the Commonwealth and Plug In America to accelerate the deployment of electric, plug-in electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, collectively referred to as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), in the Massachusetts. DOE selected Plug in America and Clean Cities programs in Massachusetts, as well as in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont, to provide funding for continued public, workplace and fleet events over the next two years.  Massachusetts currently offers rebates to customers purchasing electric vehicles through the MOR-EV program. The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced $12 million in additional funding for MOR-EV, representing more than double the rebate funding over the lifetime of the program.

“The innovative test drive initiative funded by the program is proven to help shape consumer perceptions of driving electric and how easy it is to make the switch away from petroleum to make our environment cleaner,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The continuation of Mass Drive Clean federal funding will leverage our successful experience in the Commonwealth with that of our fellow New England states towards a collaborative effort to promote the positive impacts of zero emissions vehicles.”

Mass Drive Clean is a highly successful pilot program funded through a DOE grant in 2015 that resulted in over 650 drivers and passengers test driving one or more electric vehicles at employer sponsored and public events. The program was continued this year with over 1000 test drives to date. The drives are a way for interested drivers to get behind the wheel of multiple makes and models of these clean vehicles.  Each driver is surveyed before and after driving, with 83% saying that their overall opinion of a ZEV is better than before their test drive and 68% said that were more likely to purchase one now that they had experienced the performance of the cars. Plug In America has shown in California that about 10% of ride and drive participants will purchase a ZEV within six months. Surveys to Massachusetts test drivers are being sent about 6 months after their drive to document results here.

“Mass Drives Clean proves that by giving consumers the firsthand experience of operating an electric, they are much more likely to purchase a vehicle and help take a traditional vehicle off the road,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson. “The increased adoption of electric vehicles is a vital component of Massachusetts reducing emissions to meet our targets under the Global Warming Solutions Act

Automotive dealership training and recognition is another component of the DOE program and will be rolled out first in Massachusetts under this grant. This project is one of only three ZEV showcase projects funded by the U.S. DOE around the country, one in the mid-west and one in the northwest.

Plug In America is the leading national consumer voice promoting the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States to consumers, policymakers, auto manufacturers and others. Formed as a non-profit in 2008, Plug In America provides practical, objective information collected from our coalition of plug-in vehicle drivers, through public outreach and education, policy work and a range of technical advisory services. Our expertise represents the world’s deepest pool of experience of driving and living with plug-in vehicles. The organization conceived National Drive Electric Week and has advanced workplace charging by pioneering ride-and-drive events at such leading corporations as Google, Mattel and Paramount Pictures. www.pluginamerica.org. 

陳仕維，黃立輝連任波士頓安良工商會會長

波士頓安良工商會新屆職員就職典禮。前排右起，梅炳鈿，梅惠聰，陳仕維(前又四起)，陳家驊，經文處長賴銘琪，黃立輝，朱自律，李厚鵬。後排右起，陳文浩。黃國健，李天生，伍輝民，司徒炳思，阮鴻蔡，翁英宏，周榮佳，鄧北海。(波士頓安良工商會堤共)

              (Boston Orange)波士頓安良工商會今(12月26)日中午，在波士頓華埠乞臣街會址舉行就職典禮，兩名會長陳仕維，黃立輝在紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊監誓中，接過印信，連任會長一年。

經文處處長賴銘琪致詞。

              波士頓安良工商會去年底發生會務震盪，總部介入處理後，指派七人小組接管。今年四月全美安良工商會在華府舉行年會時，獲選連任的兩名總理，陳達偉、鄧錦源和元老團主席伍健生等人決定，波士頓安良工商會今年不辦選舉，但指派4名幫辦，4名職員，繼續整頓。

              七人小組成員中的陳仕維，黃立輝擔任會長。4名幫辦為黃國健，李天生，翁英宏，司徒炳思。4名職員為財政鄧北海，外交阮鴻燦，陳文浩，中文秘書伍輝民。

              在兩名會長之外的其他五名七人小組成員為司徒炳思，翁英宏，鄧北海，周榮佳，阮鴻燦。

              波士頓安良工商會在過去這一年間，不但整頓會務，還翻修樓宇。在七人小組接管後，大動土木，修好了漏水的天花板，翻新了樓頂的涼亭，目前還在繼續翻修外牆及窗戶，預計一個多月後可全部竣工，全部工程耗資近百萬元。

紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊(右二)監交，陳仕維(右
一)，黃立輝(左二)皆印。左一為司儀梅炳鈿。

              一名熟悉安良工商會財務的會員透露，翻修後，波士頓安良工商會大樓更堅實，租金提高，收入多了，償還翻修款只是時間問題而已。該名會員也透露，波士頓安良工商會原本應有400到500名會員，但不少會員年事已高，不太出來參加活動，過去這一年間新加入的，約有幾時至100人。

              今日共約40多人出席波士頓安良工商會就職典禮，其中包括波士頓洪門致公堂代表。

              駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪應邀出席致詞，恭喜兩名會長就任，感謝該會長期支持中華民國，祝賀會務興隆。波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉出差在外，未克到場。