波士頓亞美電影節訂10/22-25舉行 “好萊塢之東”將做世界首映

本年度（2015）的波士頓亞美電影節（ (BAAFF) ，將以“家在美國（Home in America）”為主題，於10月22日至25日在波士頓市的愛默生藝術(ArtEmerson)派拉蒙中心的光明家庭放映室（Bright Family Screening Room），以及劍橋市的布瑞托（Brattle）戲院舉行。

            其中將於10月23日（週五）晚9點在派拉蒙戲院放映的“好萊塢之東（East of Hollywood）“一片，有波士頓華人社區熟悉，曾任亞美社區發展協會（ACDC）董事長的曹育倫參與拍製，以模擬紀錄片形式展現亞裔美人在割喉般好萊塢環境中幕後生活的影片，將在今年的波士頓亞美電影節中做世界首映。

        波士頓亞美電影節棣屬於亞裔文化資源中心（AARW），放映由亞裔美人或移居他鄉亞裔所拍攝，或是關於亞裔美人，亞裔的近期作品，重要作品。

         今年的波士頓亞美電影節，將以Benson Lee所拍攝，有關八十年代青少年的喜劇片“搜尋平壤（Seoul Searching）”作為開幕影片，內容是一群來自世界各地，不能融合於其所生存環境的韓裔。被父母逼到平壤參加一個文化宣傳營，卻竟讓他們度過有生以來最棒的一個夏天。

            該片已獲選入日舞（Sundance）電影節，洛杉磯電影節嘉年華會放映片，並贏得了CAAM電影節觀眾獎。

            開幕電影預定於10月22日晚七點半，在布瑞托戲院舉行。劇本作者及導演Benson Lee將出席。 

            電影節的中心影片，將為曾以”好萊塢華人“，”美國紫禁城“等片，三度獲得日舞電影節獎，獲得奧斯卡提名的Arthur Dong所編，導，演，剪輯的“Haing S. Ngor醫師的殺戮戰場（ The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor）“。該片是關於最出名的柬埔寨大屠殺倖存者的紀錄片，訂10月24日（週六）晚6點15分在派拉蒙中心放映。

            閉幕片將為“美國印度小姐（Miss India America），由Ravi Kapoor所拍攝，宛如把“選舉（Election ）”，“法律的金髮（Legally Blonde）”搬進了美國印度小姐選美賽，描述一名有野心的青少年，因男朋友迷戀奪得選美后冠的印度小姐，感到一生計畫完全被毀，別無選擇的試圖也成為全國印度小姐。該片獲得CAAM電影節康卡斯Narrative評審獎，洛杉磯亞太平洋電影節最佳劇本獎。該片將於10月25日（週日）下午五點，在派拉蒙中心放映，劇本撰稿人，創意製片Meera Simhan將出席。ˇ

            查詢詳情，或購票，可上網 www.baaff.org，或 www.facebook.com/baaff。

圖片說明：

            曹育倫（左）在“好萊塢之東”一片中的劇照。（圖由曹育倫提供）

            2015波士頓亞美電影節海報。

波克萊台灣商會赴台出席世界台商總會年會

波克萊台灣商會的游勝雄（右一），郭競儒（右四），李淑玲（左五），張文欽（左三）等人日前出席世界台灣商會聯合總會第22屆年會，匯報在圓山飯店舉行的這一會議，選出了第22屆總會長李耀熊 (歐洲 - 西班牙)，監事長邢增輝 (中南美洲 - 厄瓜多爾)。

經李耀熊總會長提議，明年3月4-6日，將在西班牙首都馬德里市舉行第二
次理監事與會員代表聯合會議，會後旅遊分四團，包括地中海巴塞隆納豪華遊輪加安道爾日遊，摩洛哥深度之遊，西班牙葡萄牙七日遊，西班牙南部七日遊.等。

該一會議也選出了各洲總會長，訂定了各個年會日期與地點，包括北美洲總會長林金益，06-24-2016在加拿大多倫多市舉行；中南美洲總會長梁輝騰，06-28-2016在厄瓜多爾舉行；亞洲總會長江永興，07-21-2016在台灣高雄市舉行；歐洲總會長吳輝舟，05-24-2016在奧地利國舉行；非洲總會長溫嵐珠，04-8.9.10-2016在南非約翰尼斯堡市舉行；大洋洲總會長鍾依霖，07- 7.8.9.-2016在紐西蘭首都奧克蘭市舉行。

波克萊台灣商會共有16人，參加了這次世界台灣商會聯合總會年會，其中有8人具有世界台灣商會聯合總會資深顧問，顧問，理事等頭銜。（圖由波克萊台灣商會提供）

AG HEALEY OPPOSES BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSES IN LONG-TERM CARE CONTRACTS

AG HEALEY OPPOSES BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSES IN LONG-TERM CARE CONTRACTSJoins Multistate Effort Urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to Put Stronger Consumer Protections in Place

BOSTON – In order to better protect patients in long-term care facilities and their families, Attorney General Maura Healey joined a coalition of states in urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to prohibit binding arbitrary clauses and implement stronger consumer protections.

AG Healey, along with 14 other states and the District of Columbia, submitted comments urging CMS to remove these clauses from long-term care contracts. The attorneys general argue that the use of binding arbitration clauses takes away from consumers the ability to assert their claims in court when disputes or incidents at the facilities occur.   

“Making the decision to enter long-term care and nursing home facilities can be an emotional time for our most vulnerable populations and their families,” AG Healey said. “In these difficult circumstances, consumers need to be able to hold providers accountable for any wrongdoing in the care of themselves or their loved ones.”

The attorneys general argue that an individual entering a nursing home or other long-term care facility, or family members acting on their behalf, are often making a health care choice under stressful circumstances, and are unlikely to make an informed decision about the best method to resolve future disputes. These particular situations are unlike business negotiations between commercial parties that are the more usual place for binding arbitration clauses.

In many instances, a resident or family member only discovers the existence of a binding arbitration clause after a dispute arises or a tragic event happens. It typically requires that claims against the business – even for cases of abuse or neglect – must be brought before a private arbitration provider chosen by the facility, prohibiting consumers from filing suit.

The comments are consistent with the position of the American Arbitration Association, which determined in 2003 that it would not administer healthcare arbitrations between patients and service providers that related to medical services, unless all parties agreed to arbitration after the dispute occurred.

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) study of arbitration agreements in financial services contracts found that consumers were largely unaware about whether their contracts contained an arbitration clause and that it restricted their ability to sue in court. In November 2014, the AG’s Office lead a multistate effort urging the CFPB to restore consumer protections, rights and bargaining power by regulating arbitration clauses that are often inserted by financial institutions into contracts for credit card, payday loan and checking account agreements.

Other states that signed on to today’s comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, drafted by Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia.

MAYOR WALSH'S MENTORING MOVEMENT RECRUITS 500 NEW MENTORS

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh）日前宣佈，增召500名新輔導員，以加入全州性的麻州輔導夥伴（Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP)）計畫，幫助拓展青少年與成人建立關係，加強傳承活動效果。            波士頓市長去年推出兩年內招募1000名新輔導員為波士頓青少年服務的計畫，這一增募500名新輔導員行動，將列入前述計畫的一部分。            在麻州為250多個輔導項目服務，支援大約33,000名青少年的“麻州輔導夥伴“將協助波士頓市長，居間聯繫輔導者及青少年。查詢波士頓市長的輔導行動（Mentoring Movement），可上網bostonmentors.org，或上推特#BostonMentors。     MAYOR WALSH'S MENTORING MOVEMENT RECRUITS 500 NEW MENTORS

Boston - Thursday, October 15, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP), a statewide organization fueling the movement to expand empowering youth-adult relationships to meet the needs of communities across Massachusetts, to announce the recruitment of more than 500 new mentors so far as part of the Mayor's Mentoring Movement. The Mayor's initiative was launched late last year with the goal to recruit 1,000 new mentors over the next two years to serve Boston youth.   "We are thrilled that so many caring adults have answered the call to be the difference in the lives of young people all across the City of Boston," said Mayor Walsh. "Through our continued efforts, we hope to reach even more people who are willing to invest themselves and ensure that every young person has access to these empowering relationships." Mass Mentoring Partnership is helping Mayor Walsh to connect volunteer mentors with mentoring opportunities by referring them to partner mentoring programs across the city, who then match the adults with young people waiting for mentors. To learn more about the Mayor's Mentoring Movement, visit: bostonmentors.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter: #BostonMentors. "We want to thank our mentoring program partners for all of their work to achieve this exciting milestone," said Marty Martinez, President & CEO of Mass Mentoring Partnership. "These empowering youth-adult relationships can help young people reach their full potential and strengthen our community." Mentors encourage positive choices, promote high self-esteem, and academic achievement. They foster confidence in young people that allows them to be the best version of themselves, and more productive members of society. The impact of a caring adult's dedication and care can lift youth off of a bad path and place them on a road to success.  ABOUT MASS MENTORING PARTNERSHIP Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) is fueling the movement to expand empowering youth-adult relationships to strengthen communities across Massachusetts. MMP serves more than 250 mentoring programs and youth development organizations statewide supporting 33,000 youth in caring relationships. Visit: www.massmentors.org.

BOSTON MAN INDICTED FOR ARMED BANK ROBBERY

BOSTON MAN INDICTED FOR ARMED BANK ROBBERY

 

BOSTON – A Boston man was charged today in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with robbing a Citizens Bank in Brighton. 

 

Kenneth E. Denny, 60, was indicted on one count of armed bank robbery. 

 

According to court documents, on July 24, 2015, a man, dressed in a tan hat, gray wig, blue sports coat, shirt and tie, entered a Citizens Bank on Washington Street in Brighton.  Once inside the bank, the man allegedly handed the teller a demand note, removed an item which appeared to be a bomb from a newspaper he was carrying, placed it on the teller’s counter, and demanded money.  The man was given $4,040, but was confronted by the bank’s manager when he attempted to leave.  The man dropped the bag containing the money removed a white cell phone from his pocket and stated “I am going to blow it up.”  The individual then exited the bank and was seen heading down Washington Street. 

 

The Boston Police Bomb squad arrived and determined that the bomb was a hoax.  Inside the bank, law enforcement officers allegedly found that the robber had left his wallet on the teller’s counter with a picture ID inside in the name of Kenneth E. Denny.  Law enforcement officers recalled that they had observed a man who resembled Denny on Washington Street as they were approaching the bank.  A few minutes later, officers located the man and confirmed that his name was Kenneth Denny.  Denny was asked to produce identification and stated he must have lost his wallet. 

 

Denny was detained and returned to the bank for a live line-up.  Court documents allege that bank employees identified Denny as the man who had robbed them earlier in the day. 

 

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

 

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit. 

 

        The details contained in the indictment are allegations.  The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.