昭倫公所9月3日慶祝姜太公生日

左起，邱氏宗親會主席邱善良、謝庭熾、謝子立、謝雲鵬，姜家律師，謝如鍵、許揚威、謝中之、譚柏林、譚榮熾、阮氏公所主席阮鴻燦等人。(圖由昭倫公所

星期六，9月3日，也是農曆八月初三，紐英崙昭倫公所在波士頓華埠泰勒街會址慶祝族裔祖先姜太公誕辰，公所長老，幹部全員出席，親義兄弟的姓氏公所首長紛紛到賀，十分歡慶。

昭倫總務兼召集人謝中之主持儀式，以「姜太公在此，諸鬼神退位；寧向直中取，不往曲裡求；百事毋禁忌，萬物皆大吉；興旺我昭倫，庇佑衆子孫。」做開場白，彰顯昭倫公所重視的傳統觀念取向，請公所長者兼召集人譚榮熾、譚柏林先上香，再請共同主席謝如鍵率監察長許揚威及公所職員、宗親上香參拜，聊表敬祖心意。

昭倫另一共同主席譚達兒因公刻在外地，未能出席

謝如鍵致詞時，感謝宗親兄弟姊妹及來賓出席，也祝福眾人在姜太公庇佑下萬事如意，身心健康，出入平安；祈禱僑社繁榮，中華民國國運昌隆；世界和平，更民主自由。

儀式在謝如鍵、許揚威率眾人向姜太公三鞠躬後結束。

當天到賀的親義宗族，有姜裔兄弟的姜家律師，邱氏宗親會主席邱善良，以及阮氏公所主席阮鴻燦。到賀嘉賓有中華公所主席陳家驊，中文書記翁宇才，核數李翠萍，紐英崙龍岡親義公所的劉小芸，溯源公所的鄺坤珍。
出席眾人上香為姜太公慶生後，圍聚享用由許揚威斬開的燒豬、雞、鴨，譚玉秀帶來的紅豆沙，用謝中之家後園所種冬瓜烹煮的冬瓜排骨湯等美食佳餚，開懷敘舊，歡度這個長週末。

羅德島2016龍舟賽台灣日冠蓋雲集 首次在國家公園舉辦

羅德島州副州長麥基(左起)，參議員葛蘿莉，普打基市長蓋比思，州務卿葛比雅，國會議員
西西里尼，中央瀑布市長狄奧沙，以及克蘭斯頓市長馮偉杰(右一)等人在開幕式後合影。
(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange周菊子羅德島州報導) 駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處與羅德島州黑石谷旅遊局、羅德島華人協會合作，9月3日在羅州普塔基市攜手舉辦第17屆”羅德島州龍舟賽暨臺灣日”，不但出席政要眾多，來自各地的參觀民眾也逾萬人，現場熱鬧非常。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪(左二)，波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉(右一)
和華航代表張伙堅(左一)，長榮航空代表俞炳亮合影。

今年的羅德島州龍舟賽，至少締造2項紀錄，一是首度在國家公園裏舉行比賽，一是第一次送出20張那麼多的紐約到台北來回機票當獎品。

羅州副州長麥基(右)謝謝賴銘琪支持，在羅州辦文化活動。

羅州政要的出席人數之多，層級之高，大概也破紀錄，不但有羅德島州國會議員西西里尼(David Cicillini) ，副州長麥基(Daniel McKee) ，州務卿葛比雅(Nellie Gorbea) ，財政廳長馬克力尼(Seth Magaziner) ，還有3名市長，克蘭斯頓市長馮偉杰(Allan Fung) ，普塔基市長蓋比思(Donald Grebien)，中央瀑布市長狄奧沙(James Diossa)，以及參議員葛蘿莉(Elizabeth Crowley) 、眾議員圖布(Carlos Tobon) ，藝術節主席包思特(John Baxter)等人。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處也大動員到會，在處長賴銘琪夫婦之外，還有波士頓華僑文化中心主任歐宏偉，新聞組組長朱永昌，副組長陳文昌，外事組組長官大昇等人出席。

克蘭斯頓市長馮偉杰(左)將於今年十一月競選連任，羅島華協吳子平(右)
義不容辭的又將助陣。

羅德島州國會議員西西里尼(David Cicilline)指出，美國國家公園今年慶祝100週年，”羅德島州龍舟賽暨臺灣日”今年也是有史以來第一次是在國家公園裏舉行，別有意義。

羅德島州龍舟賽比賽場地黑石河谷歷史迴廊(Blackstone River Valley Historic Corridor)，今年一月才被正式指定為美國國家歷史公園，已在那兒辦了16年的羅德島州龍舟賽，因此締造今年第一次在美國國家公園裏舉辦的紀錄。

歐宏偉(右二)重返波士頓做僑教中心主任，來到羅德島州和老朋友
葉超(右起)，陳和棟，吳子平重逢，自然高興非常。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪和觀光局、中華航空公司合作，首度大規模送出22張紐約到台北來回機票給龍舟賽第一名團隊，也為今年這活動，再添一項紀錄。

龍拱門已成羅德島州龍舟賽的標誌了。

羅州龍舟賽今年共有20隊參賽。主持人，黑石谷旅遊局總裁畢靈頓(Bob Billington)在比賽結束後宣佈龍獅虎3組的冠亞季軍。其中龍組冠軍為”聯合龍(United Dragon)”，成績一分零五秒，獅組冠軍為”壯志凌雲隊(Top Gun)” ，成績一分零十八秒，虎組冠軍為”火上水(Fire on the Water)” ，成績一分廿二秒。

另有“海洋州龍舟俱樂部(Ocean State Dragonboat Club)贏得羅德島州最佳隊伍獎。羅德島州的22 餃子隊也獲得獎勵。

萬寅生(左起)，吳子平、葉超，章賢信等羅島華協幹部，這天都在現場
當義工。

來自麻州的華人青年協會暴風雨隊(CYPM Storm) ，波士頓DRS，波士頓一龍隊，儘管有麻州龍舟賽的主辦人劉忠凱，伍振中做為羅州龍舟賽顧問到場助陣，依序在龍獅虎三組中都屈居亞軍，其中的華人青年協會暴風雨隊和冠軍隊的成績只差3秒，一名女隊員的賽後飆淚，不知是否為此含恨。

中華民俗藝術工作坊學員的家長李政欣(右)等人義務出動百文化攤位。

“羅德島州龍舟賽暨台灣日”除了龍舟賽之外，還有吃餃子，吃西瓜比賽，以及由胡少娟做司儀主持的羅德島功夫團、中華民俗藝術工作坊表演，工作坊家長們擺設的台灣民俗展演攤位，包括扯鈴，跳繩，耍綵帶，甩陀螺，踢毽子，捏麵人，寫書法，做面具，頭飾，畫臉等等活動。經文處新聞組也照例設有攤位，擺放介紹台灣風土人情的文宣，國旗貼紙等小禮物。

在Athletigen Technologies公司工作的波士頓一龍隊隊員陳莉晶，贏得吃西瓜比賽，抱走獎品大西瓜一個。

今年的羅州龍舟賽現場，還安裝了攀岩遊戲。

有36人參加的吃餃子大賽，由去年與競爭對手打平，續賽兩次，5分鐘內吃下70多個餃子仍敗北，今年捲土重來的Eric Ming-de Skinberg奪冠，成績是42個餃子。已連續3年贊助吃餃子比賽的長榮航空公司代表，客運課課長俞炳亮送上紐約、台北來回機票一張。

       創辦這活動的羅德島華人協會主席葉超、會長吳子平表示，十七年下來，羅德島州龍舟賽暨台灣日越來越有規模，在普塔基市斥資兩百萬元整修場地後，整個活動也能給人更舒適的休閒感覺，但活動能辦得成功，最重要的還是因為有各方支持，包括萬寅生，章賢信，黃樺，宋秀珍，陳和棟，邵鹿邑等等義工的在現場忙進忙出支援。

今年共有20組龍舟隊參賽。

在波士頓承辦龍舟賽多年的劉忠凱(中)和伍振中(右)應畢靈頓(前左)之邀，近年每年都到
羅州支援。

宋秀珍(左起)、黃樺當吃餃子比賽義工。

吳子平(左)，黃樺（中），宋秀珍（前右一）幫忙遞送餃子給參賽者。

畢靈頓看名牌介紹參賽者。

Eric Ming-de Skinberg(左二)今年奪得吃餃子冠軍。

華航俞炳亮(右)送出機票一張給吃餃子賽優勝者。

吃餃子比賽之外，還有吃西瓜比賽。

吃西瓜居然也可做比賽。

重回波士頓，羅德島的僑教中心主任歐宏偉(左一)特地帶妻小參加羅德島州龍舟賽。

中華民俗藝術工作坊表演扇舞。

胡少娟當司儀，主持節目。

中華民俗藝術工作坊的扯鈴表演。

參賽龍舟競比完畢，依序上岸。

中華民俗藝術工作坊舞蹈表演。

新英格蘭北大校友也組隊參賽>

華人青年協會暴風雨隊以3秒之差飲恨。

羅州龍舟賽冠軍聯合龍隊。

最佳羅德島州龍舟隊伍。

吳新興出席歐台協會年會 籲團結挺台

吳新興出席歐台協會年會 籲團結挺台

（本報訊）僑務委員會委員長吳新興3日應邀出席在德國法蘭克福舉辦的「歐洲台灣協會聯合會第46屆年會」並擔任開幕典禮貴賓，代表總統蔡英文向旅居歐洲的所有僑民致意，呼籲大家繼續支持中華民國、支持台灣，攜手共同為國家更美好的發展而努力。

吳委員長致詞時表示，感謝歐洲地區僑民一直以來對於政府的支持，今年5月20日後，台灣歷經第三次政黨輪替，成為百分之百的自由民主國家。吳委員長說，這次年會有來自歐洲、美加等不同國家地區的台灣同胞共同參與，讓他看到海內外國人的熱情及對民主自由的追求。

「雖然新政府執政，但也面臨了非常多的挑戰」，吳委員長指出，諸如經濟發展轉型的挑戰、民眾對於司法改革的呼聲不斷，以及兩岸關係互動等，這些挑戰都需要海外僑胞的支持，讓台灣可以走出

 去，因此呼籲全球僑胞繼續支持台灣。

由於出席年會人員來自世界各地，吳委員長另以英文向在場貴賓簡要致詞，內容深獲包括德國黑森邦資深議員Ismail Tipi等多名外籍人士共鳴。「聽了吳委員長的演講，也觸發我的鄉愁情懷，想起在土耳其的點點滴滴」，Ismail Tipi有感而發地表示。

Ismail Tipi還在年會現場致贈吳委員長勳章，並親自為吳委員長配戴，為年會開幕式畫下完美句點。

美勞工部長稱奧巴馬政府七年多來與勞工同陣線

Labor Day is about more than picnics and parades. We celebrate this day to reflect on America's labor movement -- the men and women who have helped build this country and our middle class. Because they've spoken up together and demanded fairness, we can all enjoy things like the 40-hour workweek, overtime pay, minimum wage, safer workplaces, health insurance, Social Security, Medicare, and retirement plans.

For generations, hardworking Americans have been raising their voices, together. Giving people a voice at work -- the ability to organize and negotiate for their fair share of the value they helped create -- is absolutely essential to a growing, vibrant middle class. For the past seven and a half years, President Obama has worked not only to grow the economy but to create a balanced economy, where everyone's hard work is rewarded, where everyone gets a fair shake, where everyone has the chance to get ahead. Simply put, America is stronger when more people have more.

As the President has said, all of that progress is stamped with the union label. And it's all fueled by a simple belief: that our economy works better when it works for everybody.

That's the spirit that's made the progress of these past seven and a half years possible. Not only have businesses added 15.1 million jobs since early 2010, and we've seen the longest streak of total job growth on record, but we've cut the unemployment rate in half since the depths of the recession. So many American families are better off this Labor Day than they were seven years ago.

But we still have work to do. We can only make progress -- like raising the minimum wage and expanding access to paid leave -- if hardworking men and women raise their voices.

"History shows that working families can get a fair shot in this country -- but only if we are willing to organize and fight for it. So whether you simply talk to your coworkers about what matters to you, or take the step of joining a union, the power ultimately rests with you." -- President Obama

 So this Labor Day, read a special message from the President on the power of American workers, then learn more about how we've worked together to strengthen our voices in the workplace.

Happy Labor Day. Let's continue standing with our workers -- not just today, but every day of the year.

Tom

Secretary Tom Perez
Department of Labor
@LaborSec

CONGRESSMAN LIEU’S STATEMENT ON LABOR DAY

CONGRESSMAN LIEU’S STATEMENT ON LABOR DAY

WASHINGTON - Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement today in honor of Labor Day, which will be celebrated on Monday, September 5.

“This Labor Day we honor the millions of hard-working men and women across the United States. Decades ago workers successfully banded together to demand fair wages and working conditions. Too often today we lose sight of the tremendous gains the labor movement has made for all American workers and our economy. That is why every Labor Day I plan to highlight two individuals whose work has improved the lives of American workers.”

Eugene Debs

Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Eugene V.  Debs was a prominent labor organizer in the 1800s. Early in his career, Debs was involved in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. He later founded the American Railway Union, which was one of the first industrial unions in the nation. While leading the Pullman Strike, Debs was jailed for his actions. However, undeterred by resistance to the labor movement, Debs continued to travel the country advocating for the rights of workers throughout his life. To learn more about Debs, please visit http://debsfoundation.org/index.php/landing/debs-biography/.

Larry Itliong

Larry Itliong was a Filipino farm worker and labor organizer in California. In 1965, Itliong led more than 1,000 workers in the Delano Grape Strike demanding better wages. During this time Itliong also worked with Cesar Chavez, bringing together Filipino and Mexican laborers, to organize the United Farm Workers. Itliong’s work, particularly with the Delano Grape Strike, was critical in sparking the farm worker movement. In 2015, to honor the legacy of Itliong, Governor Brown signed legislation marking October 25 as Larry Itliong Day. To learn more about Itliong, please visithttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/us/larry-itliong-forgotten-filipino-labor-leader.html?_r=0.

深圳投資推廣署訪波士頓 拋一億補助吸引人才團隊

深圳市投資推廣署招商三處處長許賀

       (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州劍橋市報導)中國廣東省深圳市投資推廣署一行六人，9月2日晚到哈佛大學辦宣講會，介紹深圳綜合營商環境，強調深圳鼓勵創新，獎勵剛翻倍，政策已鬆綁，人才團隊最高資助一億元等最新情況，廣邀人才，團隊到深圳落戶發展。

     深圳市是最早來美設據點的中國城市之一，在加州的深圳駐北美經貿代表處，已有約20年歷史。

招商專員高思諾

深圳市投資推廣署招商三處處長許賀，招商專員高思諾，南山區經濟促進局投資促進中心主任李源等一行六人此行訪美，就由深圳駐北美經貿代表處代表戴靜負責聯絡，已拜訪了紐約，波士頓，今(3)日轉往古巴。

南山區經濟促進局投資促進中心主任李源

       深圳市甫於上週慶祝36歲生日。許賀指出，該市有三最，最年輕，最創新，最創業。市內常住人口1100萬，平均年齡34.7歲，全市GDP去年高達2700億元，其中約10%用於研發，市府每年都撥款一、二百億元扶持產業，境內現有創業機構4.8萬家。深圳市府目前仍在不斷出台新的產業政策，為企業提共個性化服務，推動企業發展。

       高思諾強調深圳絕對是有心創業者的最佳平台，包括騰訊，百度，華為，華大基因，比亞迪等等，許多中國大企業都以深圳為家，就是例證。該市現正推動”三名”工程，鼓勵醫療科技企業發展之外，還在增設自貿區，力爭在未來幾年內，建80個研發中心，10,000多套人才房，已加強對人才，團隊的吸引力及扶持。優惠政策包括大學生零門檻補助，高層次人才團隊最高資助一億元，200平米房子，可免租十年等。

創辦Skinome這精準美容化妝公司的譚叩

       李源指出，南山區是個有2000多年歷史的古城，刻正翻修集裝箱碼頭，要建世界第一郵輪碼頭，並打造經濟，科技創新，文化，國際交流等四個中心，以及前海區，深圳灣超級總部中心區，後灣金融區，醫療科技等六個片區中心，發展潛力無窮。

麻省理工學院中國創新創業論壇本年度主席馬方暢

       在這場以”創新發展、共營未來”為主題的投資合作交流會中，主辦單位還特地邀請來自波士頓本地，現已在深圳創業的”塔吉瑞生物”公司董事長王義漢，曾入選美國西岸Y Combinator孵化營，現正創辦Skinome這精準美容化妝公司的譚叩，以及麻省理工學院中國創新創業論壇本年度主席馬方暢等人發表講話，美中生物醫藥協會會長史相國代表其他嘉賓致詞，包括該會主席林世文，新英格蘭美中醫藥開發協會會長龍江，中國千人計劃專家高光坪，哈佛大學統計生物教授劉軍，輝瑞全球研發亞太區對外研發合作負責人暨執行總監丁元華，清華大學校友會會長庄小丹，麻省國際教育總裁郭先奎等。

塔吉瑞生物公司董事長王義漢

AG HEALEY TAKES ACTION AGAINST UNLAWFUL STUDENT ‘DEBT RELIEF’ COMPANY

AG HEALEY TAKES ACTION AGAINST UNLAWFUL STUDENT ‘DEBT RELIEF’ COMPANYCompany to Refund $160,000 to More Than 400 Consumers in Massachusetts

BOSTON – As part of her ongoing effort to address abuses in the student lending industry, Attorney General Maura Healey has announced action against a so-called “debt relief” company that allegedly charged hundreds of Massachusetts borrowers unlawful upfront fees and misled consumers about its affiliation with the federal government.

Under the terms of the settlement, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Libre Technology, Inc. (Libre) – which did business under the name Student Loan Service.US – will refund $160,000 to more than 400 Massachusetts customers and reform its business practices.

“Student loan debt is crushing students, their families and our communities, and many companies have taken advantage of this crisis by misleading borrowers looking for help,” AG Healey said. “My office will continue to protect students from these abuses and ensure that they utilize the free federal programs available to manage their monthly payments. We are pleased to get money back for those who were charged illegal upfront fees for loan assistance.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Libre will change its name and website to avoid further confusion for consumers and misrepresentation of any affiliation with the federal government. Libre’s services will be discontinued for all Massachusetts consumers, unless the consumer completes an opt-in notice provided under the settlement. Additionally, previously incurred unpaid fees will be waived for all current Massachusetts customers. 

Libre has also agreed to disclose in its contracts and marketing materials that it has no affiliation with the federal government, that federal student loan borrowers can apply for income-driven repayment plans or consolidation on their own for free at www.studentloans.gov, and that Libre cannot help borrowers get lower monthly payments than they can get by applying on their own. 

Student loan “debt relief” companies like Libre typically charge student loan borrowers hundreds of dollars to help them arrange lower monthly payments or resolve defaulted federal student loans. Often, these companies advertise “student loan debt relief” or “Obama student loan forgiveness” on the internet or radio, and fail to disclose that borrowers can apply for this federal loan assistance on their own and for free. The companies typically use names that are intended to falsely convey an association with the federal government or U.S. Department of Education.

Federal student borrowers do not need to pay private companies to access borrower assistance programs, such as loan consolidation, income-driven repayment plans, and loan forgiveness. The federal government offers these programs to borrowers directly and there is no fee to apply.

The Massachusetts AG’s Office continues to be a national leader on issues of student lending. This case against Libre is the third in a series of enforcement actions brought by Attorney General Healey against student “debt relief” companies. In November, AG Healeyannounced settlements worth $96,000 with two debt relief companies – Student Loan Processing.US and Direct Student Aid – for their allegedly unfair and deceptive practices.

Massachusetts students who encounter difficulties enrolling in federal income-driven repayment programs or resolving defaulted loans may contact the Attorney General’s Student Loan Assistance Unit at 1-888-830-6277 or www.mass.gov/ago/studentloans for free help. Students who are interested in learning more about income-driven repayment programs, have questions about their student loan options, or would like to know if they are eligible for relief under this settlement can also call the AG’s Student Loan Assistance Unit for help.

The settlement with Libre Technology, Inc. was handled by Assistant Attorney General Brook Kellerman and Investigations Supervisor Arwen Thoman, with assistance from Division Chief Glenn Kaplan of the Attorney General’s Insurance & Financial Services Division.