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星期三, 1月 04, 2017

文訪團亞洲巡演 吳新興邀國人先睹為快

僑務委員會春節文化訪問團演出人員在行前公演合唱「寶島曼波」,
將氣氛帶到最高潮。
 僑務委員會委員長吳新興4日在台北表示,為慶祝中華民國106年農曆春節,僑委會特別籌組文化訪問團,將巡迴亞洲7國,並率先在國內舉辦行前公演,讓國內外民眾都能欣賞台灣優質文化藝術饗宴。

僑委會春節文化訪問團將於23日至35日赴亞洲7個國家13個城市巡迴演出,僑委會與台北市政府觀光傳播局先於4日晚在台北公館自來水園區Pipe live music合作舉辦行前公演,僑委會副委員長田秋堇等人出席觀賞。
僑務委員會委員長吳新興(前排中)感謝春節文化訪問團演出
人員賣力演出,並期許能將台灣優質文化帶到海外。

吳新興表示,這是首次僑委會與縣市政府合作舉辦文化訪問團行前公演,不但在海外宣揚台灣優質文化,也讓國內民眾搶先觀賞精彩演出。

本次巡迴訪演安排台式搖滾先驅董事長樂團、金牌歌后于台煙、金曲獎客家音樂大師黃連煜、鄒族美聲歌后安歆澐、魔術王子簡銘宣等人演出,並於日本及馬來西亞場次安排國寶級歌手文夏、文香擔任特別來賓,引領僑胞回味台灣經典歌曲。

文化訪問團將前往日本東京、菲律賓納卯、泰國曼谷、馬來西亞檳城、拿篤、亞庇、柔佛峇株、吉隆坡、印尼峇里島、泗水、雅加達、越南胡志明市、柬埔寨金邊演出。詳細演出日期及地點,請至僑委會官網查詢:www.ocac.gov.tw。(僑委會提供)

EternoGen Aesthetics LLC opens offices in Lowell

EternoGen Aesthetics LLC opens offices at Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) to improve manufacturing efficiencies and capitalize on being part of the world’s preeminent Biotech Hub

LOWELL, Massachusetts – January 4TH , 2017 –   EternoGen Aesthetics LLC (EA), developer and manufacturer of advanced collagen scaffolds to deliver Bio Dermal Restoration, announced today the opening of new offices within the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2).  The new office will allow the company to be close to their manufacturing site in Massachusetts and to capitalize on the skill base that comes with the dense clustering of similar firms in the region.

2017 stands to be a pivotal year for EA with the impending European approval and launch of its first in class Bio Dermal Restoration product Cellifique® which is positioned to revolutionize the $2B global dermal filler market. Cellifique is the approved brand name of Rapidly Polymerizing Collagen and EA’s first of a rich pipeline of products designed to produce natural lasting aesthetic results through directly restoring dermal tissue lost with age as opposed to filling wrinkles with foreign substances.

EA worked closely with the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) on considering location options in Massachusetts to be close to their contract manufacturer, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing (BSM) in Lee, Massachusetts.  BSM is a leader in sterile manufacturing processes.  EA plans to utilize the MLSC’s Internship Challenge program to recruit local talent in line with their expansion plans.

“We are delighted to announce this critical milestone for EA as we gear up for the European launch of Cellifique in 2017” explains Anna Tenstam, EA’s CEO.  “Having an office close to our manufacturing site will significantly improve our operational efficiencies as we scale-up production. Equally Massachusetts has one of the largest concentrations of biotech and med tech activity in the world and being a part of this will give us access to some of the leading scientific and industry talent as we expand.”

“EternoGen Aesthetics LLC’s decision to open offices here speaks to the benefits companies gain from being located within Massachusetts’s biotech cluster, and being in close proximity to advanced manufacturing partners,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “The M2D2 Center has once again proven to be an extraordinary asset in attracting new and established companies to the Commonwealth.”

“We welcome Eternogen to Massachusetts, and look forward to supporting the company’s growth here,” said Travis McCready, President & CEO of the MLSC.  “We are pleased to see them taking advantage of the exceptional resources offered by both M2D2 and Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, joining a growing and vibrant concentration of innovative medical device companies in the Merrimack Valley.”  In 2014, M2D2 received $5 million in grant funding from the MLSC's Competitive Capital Program to support the expansion of their incubator facilities.

“We are pleased to welcome Eternogen to the M2D2 incubator,” said Stephen McCarthy, Founder & Director of M2D2.  “Through the resources of UMass Lowell, the UMass Medical School, and in the Massachusetts entrepreneurial ecosystem as a whole, we look forward to working with Eternogen and helping to advance their technology toward commercialization.”

Governor Baker Nominates Michaela C. Stewart to the Juvenile Court

Governor Baker Nominates Michaela C. Stewart to the Juvenile Court

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker has nominated Michaela C. Stewart, an attorney dedicated to child welfare and juvenile law, to serve as an Associate Justice of the Juvenile Court.

“Michaela Stewart is a well-respected attorney with experience representing both parents and children before the Commonwealth’s juvenile and probate and family courts,” said Governor Baker. “I am pleased to nominate such a passionate advocate for the Governor’s Council’s consideration.”

“Michaela Stewart has dedicated her career to making a difference in the lives ofchildren,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed, I am confident that she will have a meaningful impact on the children and families that will appear before her and that she will always be mindful of the safety of the children involved.”

The Juvenile Court Department is a statewide court with jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters including delinquencies, youthful offender cases, care and protections and children requiring assistance cases.   The Juvenile Court has 41 judges, including the Chief Justice, in over 40 locations. 

If confirmed by the Governor’s Council Attorney Stewart will take the Boston seat vacated by the retirement of Honorable Marjory A. German.
For more information about the Juvenile Court, please visit:http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/juv/

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.

波士頓國民黨元旦團拜呼籲團結

波士頓國民黨執委會委員,左起,袁建業,蘇麗萍,張韻蘭,韓幼文,李伍綺蓮,王競芳,後右起,薛劍童,李若蘭。(周菊子攝)
              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)國民黨波士頓分部元月元日在乞臣街會址舉行2017年元旦團拜,頒晉齡獎章嘉勉16名資深黨員,歡迎1名新黨員加入。分部常委張韻蘭直言國民黨如今面對追殺困境,舉步維艱,盼黨員團結同心,祝願新的一年,天佑中華。
經文處處長賴銘琪(左)頒發晉齡獎章給波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭。
(周菊子攝)
              波士頓國民黨部今年的元旦團拜,出席熱絡,五,六十名黨員,擠進座落在波士頓華埠內的長方形黨部會址,互相拜年,問好,非常熱鬧。
駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪,雲雯蓁夫婦,副處長陳銘俊,波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉,以及紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊等,有多名嘉賓到會,獻上闔府安康,國運昌隆等祝福語。
經文處處長賴銘琪(左)頒發晉齡獎章給中華公所主席陳家驊。
(周菊子攝)
              波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭在司儀李若蘭主禮中,與出席眾人唱國歌,向國父遺像行三鞠躬禮,再恭讀總理遺囑,懇切致詞,籲請黨員團結,不要在臉書等社交媒體上發表攻擊自已同志的言詞。
            張韻蘭指出,國民黨從年初總統敗選,到如今遭民進黨追殺,凡此種種不堪回首。她想像國民黨未來的路會更艱辛,希望黨員們堅信人在做,天再看,眼前的困難是一時的,民眾的眼睛是雪亮的,老天的對待會是公平的。她期望大家都能站起來做對的事,走正確的路。
經文處處長賴銘琪(前右三)與資深黨員吳月雲(前左三)等人合影。
(周菊子攝)
              張韻蘭也在致詞時匯報黨務。她說明黨中央已決定黨費繳納可延二個月,直至今年225日。歡迎熱心者繳交額外費用匡助黨部營運。黨部中常委一職,預定明年520日舉行,凡在120日以前已加入,已繳納黨費,已歸隊恢復黨籍者,均有投票權。波士頓分部只是代收黨費,所有收到的款項,都轉交到台灣的海外黨部,收到收據後會轉交。
僑教中心主任歐宏偉(左)與波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭(右)。(周菊子攝)
              經文處處長賴銘琪表示,國民黨現在雖然面對嚴峻挑戰,但國民黨是個有韌性的政黨,過去在創立中華民國,北伐,抗日,國共內戰,甚至第一次失去政權時,都遭遇過許多困難,但最後都能克服萬難。他相信國民黨只要堅定,團結,就一定能再展雄風。
曾任波士頓國民黨植偉的周仙梅(右)也特地出席團拜。
賴銘琪也簡報了過去一年來台灣的整體得失。他指出台灣有著選出首名女總統,免或落地簽證國家增至164個,駕照互換州,包括麻州增至19個,台美雙邊貿易增至660億等成就,但也面對勞工薪資偏低,少子化,勞動力減少,貧富、城鄉、南北的差距大,社會穩定度及競爭力受影響,經濟漸邊緣化,兩岸關係不確定等挑戰,但他相信只要中國大陸一日不民主,台灣就會繼續發光,發熱。
            波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉致詞時強調和國民黨員們是一家人,感謝大家早上出席僑教中心的元旦升旗,稱讚節目好看,說明會場派發的國旗圍巾是賴銘琪處長送的,僑教中心的2017年月曆直到去年1230日晚才寄到,想要的人可到僑教中心索取。他祝福大家
            紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊藉黃埔軍校,政大校訓寓意,指國民黨要克服當前困難,黨員們就必須發揮親愛精誠精神。
            波士頓國民黨在一月一日的元旦團拜中還頒發了黨員晉齡獎章,鼓勵入黨屆3060年的16名黨員,同時歡迎一名新黨員加入。其中60年的有3人,吳月雲,黃福昇,梁愛清。50年有陳家驊,張韻蘭。40年最多,有10人,于鴻鈞,徐春妹,陳新友,王麗璋,韓幼文,李美斌,張明燦,楊麗雪,蔡欽河,湯玲玲。30年有司徒慶貽。新入黨的是馮睿民。(圖片已於1/2發表)

陳吳荔獲藍山銀行表揚為2017家鄉英雄

陳吳荔(Lai Chen)在BCNC壁畫前。(BCNC提供)
Boston, MA – Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) employee Lai Chan is recognized by Blue Hills Bank as one of the 2017 Hometown Heroes.  Lai Chan will be featured in the Bank’s fifth annual Hometown Hero Calendar, which honors 12 groups or individuals who go above and beyond to make our community a better place to live and work. 

“Our Hometown Hero calendar is a tribute to the amazing individuals who contribute to the vibrancy of our communities,” comments Blue Hills Bank president and CEO William M. Parent. “It is an honor to recognize these hardworking, selfless individuals each year.”

Lai Chan has been working at BCNC’s Acorn Center for Early Education and Care for 35 years.  
Since Lai arrival in Boston’s Chinatown in 1974, Lai has provided valuable services to the local Chinese community. She began her career as a teacher at Kwong Kow Chinese School and BCNC. Lai was instrumental in securing city funding for community nonprofits. Lai has touched the lives of thousands of children through her commitment to their education and her 35 years of passion for helping her community make her a role model in Chinatown.  

"Lai Chan is a role model for all of us at BCNC," said executive director Giles Li. "Now the first children she taught are grown up, and bringing their kids back to Lai's classroom. Most of us do not get to meet truly inspirational people in our lifetime; I am so lucky to get to work with Lai Chan every day." 

Along with this honor, each hero receives a $1,000 donation from the Blue Hills Bank Charitable Foundation for one of their favorite charities.  Lai Chan nominates BCNC as her favorite charity.

The recipients of 2017 Blue Hills Bank Hometown Hero Awards represent various Greater Boston‐area neighborhoods and are:  Antoinette Hemphill, Catholic Memorial School, Lai Chan, Officer Darryl Owens, Dr. Jean Bonnet, Scott Batey, Kalsie King, June Cooper, Tony Andreotti, Michelle Williams, Pete Downing and Kimberly Jones.  Calendars are free, while supplies last, and are available at all Blue Hills Bank branches beginning December 1st. 

About Blue Hills Bank: 

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES RE-APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL O'NEILL AS SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES 
RE-APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL O'NEILL 
AS SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER
BOSTON - Monday, January 2, 2017 - Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the re-appointment of Michael D. O'Neill to the Boston School Committee for a third, four-year term. O'Neill was first appointed as a member of the School Committee on July 15, 2008 and he was elected Chairman of the School Committee on January 7, 2013. O'Neill will be sworn in on Wednesday, January 4 at 5:30 p.m.

"I am honored to re-appoint Michael O'Neill to the Boston School Committee," Mayor Walsh said. "Michael is a proven leader who understands the importance of moving the school district forward and broadening quality educational opportunity for all students across the city. I look forward to his continued work with the district and the community to improve our schools."

The seven-member Boston School Committee is responsible for defining the vision, mission and goals of the Boston Public Schools; establishing and monitoring the annual operating budget; hiring, managing and evaluating the Superintendent; and setting and reviewing district policies and practices to support student achievement.

O'Neill is a Boston Public Schools graduate and holds a Masters in Entrepreneurial Studies from Babson College. He is the Executive Vice President of Financial Services at 451 Marketing in Boston where he leads a sector focus on Financial Services. He is Board Chair of the Boston Private Industry Council's Youth Council and a member of the Boston PIC Workforce Development Committee. O'Neill is a current resident of Charlestown and a lifelong Bostonian.

"I thank the Mayor for this opportunity and I greatly appreciate his commitment to the students of Boston," O'Neill said. "The Boston School Committee has enjoyed working closely with the Mayor and his team and I look forward to continuing our work together to improve the lives and futures of the 57,000 students in the Boston Public Schools."

The seven members of the School Committee are Boston residents appointed by the Mayor of Boston to serve four-year staggered terms. Mayor Walsh made this appointment based on a list of candidates recommended by a 13-member Citizens Nominating Panel composed of parents, teachers, principals, and representatives of business and higher education.

麻州銀行協會捐款5000給波士頓華埠社區中心

left to right: Irene Ruan, East Boston Savings Bank, Chinatown Branch;
Kevin F. Kiley, EVP, Massachusetts Bankers Association; Giles Li,
Executive Director of BCNC; Daniel J. Forte, President, Massachusetts Bankers
 Association; Russell Chin, East Boston Savings Bank Board of Directors.
BOSTON, January 3, 2017 – Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) was awarded a grant of $5,000 from the Massachusetts Bankers Association (MBA)Charitable Foundation. The Foundation, supported by the 155 member banks of the MBA throughout Massachusetts and New England, distributed 37 grants in 2016 totaling a record amount of $155,000 over eight geographic regions in Massachusetts. BCNC has been selected as one of the deserving social services agencies. MBA member East Boston Savings Bank nominated BCNC for the grant. “We feel a small measure of pride, once again, to be able to help these deserving nonprofits,” said Charles P. O’Brien, chairman of the MBA Charitable Foundation and president and CEO of Adams Community Bank. “Yet we are still humbled by the realization that there is so much need across the Commonwealth. That’s why each year, we rededicate ourselves to this effort to help in any way we can.”

第八屆紐英崙中華民族舞蹈比賽報名開始


第八屆紐英崙中華民族舞蹈比賽報名開始

由紐英崙中華藝術協會兩年主辦一次的「第八屆紐英崙中華民族舞蹈比賽」訂於2017年四月1日假位於Woburn的中華藝術協會活動中心舉行。這是紐英崙地區唯一為業餘舞者舉辧的中華民族舞蹈比賽,現今已開始接受報名。

比賽分為十三歲以上個人組、雙人與三人組、團體組及十二歲以下個人組、雙人與三人組、團體組。類別有中國古典舞、中國民間舞與中國少數民族舞蹈三大類。這是一日的比賽,結束後隨即公佈結果及舉行頒獎典禮。為了以示公平,兩位裁判皆將聘請自外州的專業舞蹈家。

比賽每組將取優勝者兩名。個人組第一名將獲獎杯及獎金$100元,雙人或三人組第一名將獲獎杯及獎金$150元,團體組第一名將獲獎杯及獎金$200元。每組第一名並可獲在June 24, 2017中華藝術協會第三十一屆中華民族舞蹈展演出的機會。個人組第二名將獲獎杯及獎金$60元,雙人或三人組第二名將獲獎杯及獎金$80元,團體組第二名將獲獎杯及獎金$100元。每組並設有榮譽獎,將獲獎杯一座。所有參賽者皆獲頒參賽證書。
         比賽並設「最有前途獎」一名,獎金$300將由「褚思揚紀念基金」提供。褚思揚是中華藝術協會傳統中國舞蹈團中極優秀出色的舞者,曾榮獲第三屆與第四屆紐英崙中華民族舞蹈比賽十三歲以上古典獨舞組第一名,同時也是中華藝術協會傳統中國舞蹈團首席舞者之一。她曾擔任陳玉律創作編導舞劇「紅樓夢」與「鵲橋」中的一位首席舞者。褚思揚不幸於2009年十一月因車禍而離開我們,她那優美輕盈的舞姿,亮麗活潑的笑容將永遠活在我們每個人的心裏。

    
     中華藝術協會主辦紐英崙中華民族舞蹈比賽的宗旨在宣揚我中華文化,同時給予非專業舞蹈愛好者一個互相觀摩與切磋舞藝的機會,希望能獲大眾踴躍報名參加與支持。比賽對外公開,免費入場,歡迎大眾前來觀賞。為了比賽順利進行,禁止四歲以下兒童入場,並在比賽時禁止攝影及錄像。比賽報名表可自<www.acas-ne.com>藝協網址下載,以電郵<jadelin@verizon.net>查詢

星期二, 1月 03, 2017

波士頓僑務簡訊

僑 務 簡訊
波士頓華僑文教服務中心

Culture Center of T.E.C.O. in Boston90 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA 02461Tel: 617-965-8801 Fax: 617-965-8815
中華民國1061月第1
  



   ◎宏觀周報紙本停刊,將以宏觀電子報繼續服務    
      感謝全球僑胞36年來對「宏觀周報」的支持與鼓勵,「宏觀周報」將自
      2017年元月起停止發行紙本,改由「宏觀電子報」(macroview.com.tw)
      繼續為每位讀者服務。

   2017年海外僑商烘焙暨設備觀摩研習班」開始招生
      為應海外僑胞以烘焙創業及觀摩國內業者建立交流管道之需求,並配合
     2017年臺北國際烘焙暨設備展」,邀請有意瞭解國內烘焙業者發展現況
      及在海外創業的僑胞返國觀展,藉由本活動增進相關專業技能,以拓展新
      商機利基,提升事業競爭力。活動詳情及報名表請至網址
      如有意願者請在1月27日前將報名表寄至波士頓華僑文教服務中心
      (地址: 90 Lincoln St. Newton Highlands, MA 02461 U.S.A)。

   ◎106學年度海外僑生來臺就讀大學校院簡章修訂重點事項
   海外聯合招生委員會106學年度僑生來臺就讀大學校院簡章修訂重點事項
   如下:
      ()「聯合分發」同分參酌規定另增採「中學學業成績總平均」。
   ()「個人申請」志願數調增為4個,並試辦1年。
   ()於各式學士班適用簡章中,增列採計「國際文憑預科課程考試 IBDP
      績」之相關規定。
   () 106學年度「個人申請」報名及放榜期程提前2週辦理。
       106學年度海各地區適用簡章及報名表已於本年1027日於海外聯合
       招生委員會網頁(www.overseas.ncnu.edu.tw)公布,歡迎上網參考,並利
       用網路填寫報名資料方式申請。

   ◎海外僑胞返國自費體驗優質安心醫療服務
      臺灣醫療擁有下列六大優勢---高品質、合理價格、高科技、感動服務、完
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      查、醫學美容),凡取得合法入境文件之陸僑、港澳僑或外籍人士亦非常歡
      !!網站資訊:臺灣國際醫療全球資訊網(內含各醫療院所介紹、數位影
      音、動態及臺旅遊等資訊)(http://www.medicaltravel.org.tw)。如有洽詢事
      項,請逕洽國際醫療管理工作小組陳怡伶經理(電話:02-2885-1528 ext.12
      email:nhca14@gmail.com),可獲得即時、專業之解答,另亦可洽僑務委員
      黃馨瑩小姐代為詢問(電話:02-2327-2856,email:jany@ocac.gov.tw)

   ◎2017臺北世界大學運動會場館陸續完工。
      2017臺北世界大學運動會將在明年8月19至30日舉辦,為期12天的賽會
      活動,在世界大學運動總會(FISU) 和國際技術委員會(CTI)多次來臺灣訪
      視之下,將由臺北市政府邀請其他4個縣市及14所國私立大學一同籌辦,
      所需場館達60座之多,截至2016年11月底已有14座場館陸續完工。
      在臺北體育館完工記者會,臺北市政府特別邀請世大運培訓選手白馭珀、
      吳玓蓉及林家翾一同參與,並和柯市長文哲親自下場體驗整修後的場館
      設施設備,期許在2017臺北世大運能夠得到好成績。欲了解更多世大運
      內容及最新動態請洽官網(http://www.taipei2017.com.tw)。

  

波士頓後灣區、海港區今起路邊停車漲價

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)開車進波士頓市後灣區(Back Bay),海港區(Seaport)的人得注意了,路邊計時停車收費漲價了,1月3日起,後灣區每小時漲到3.75元,海港區就看需求,最高可達每小時4元。
波士頓市議會為舒緩街邊停車位的需求,幫市政府增加點收入,去年通過調漲計時停車費率法案,並訂定今年起,先在後灣區,海港區試辦一年。
常去紐百利(Newbury)街等後灣區的人都知道,繞大圈找停車位,一找45分鐘,很平常。但不少想省錢的人說,就算路邊計時停車費率漲了,還是比停車場收費便宜。
這一試驗計畫將適用於後灣區的1650個停車位,海港區的591個停車。
路邊計時停車收費漲價的地區,後灣區部分在麻州大道( Massachusetts Avenue)和查理士門(Charlesgate),以及畢肯街(Beacon),阿靈頓街(Arlington),史都華街(Stuart)之間。另外就是海港區。
後灣區的路邊停車費率將從原有的每小時1.25元漲到3.75元。海港區會漲到每小時1.5元,而且會每兩個月自動條漲,以因應需求,價格會漲或跌50分錢,視乎停車地點的受歡迎程度而定。有關人員表示,最高不會超過每小時4元,最低不會低於1元。
波士頓是決定採取這一做法是想鼓勵駕車人士開車進城,儘快把事辦完就離開,騰出停車位,也鼓勵人們徒步進城辦事,減少開車繞街找停車位的人。

星期一, 1月 02, 2017

波士頓元旦升中華民國國旗 近500人出席破紀錄


(Boston Orange 周菊子麻州牛頓市報導)2017年1月1日,400多名大波士頓地區僑胞齊聚麻州牛頓市海德社區,在國歌,國旗歌聲中,摀著心,敬著禮,仰望象徵世代傳承的升旗手把青天白日滿地紅國旗升起,祝禱新一年的和平,安定。
今年是中華民國106年,也是大波士頓僑社在波士頓華僑文教中心前廣場第8次舉行升旗典禮。經文處與波士頓華僑文教中心精心佈置的印有中美國旗兩幅超大布幕,好幾面撐開的青天白日滿地紅國旗,擠到連四週角落都站滿人的會場,和人數破紀錄出席者的互相拜年問好寒暄聲,都讓出席僑胞們心情激動,感過新年的興奮。
駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪今年第3次以處長身分參加升旗典禮。他以「審慎踏實、勇往直前」8各字來形容台灣過去這一年的有成就,有挫折。
成就包括在民主上,中華民國選出史上第一位女總統在外交上,拿台灣護照免簽證或落地簽的國家從153至164個。此外,台美雙邊貿易金額增至660億,為美國創造了32000個工作機會。美駕照互換協定簽署14增至19,500多台灣駕照持有人已換得麻州駕照。435議員的聯邦眾議院,加入台灣連線人數已從191增至216,有100議員的聯邦參議院,加入台灣連線者也從33增至35。12月2日,總統當選人川普和蔡英文總統通電話10分鐘,成為1979年以來雙方領導第一次的正通話記錄,也是台美關係最好的時刻。在經濟上,台灣有外匯存底4352億,排全球第5,是全球第27大經濟體,在世界經濟論壇的國家經濟競爭力排名中,位居第14,在經濟學人智庫的全球投資、經商環境評比中,排名第4。
令人擔憂的是,勞工薪資長期偏低,易形成勞資對立局面,少子化使勞動力供應走低,不加入區域經濟組織被邊緣化,貧富、城鄉、南北的差距,嚴重社會穩定性及競爭力,再加上兩岸關係的不確定性等等,未來可能有越來越多挑戰。但是賴銘琪相信,在政府與人民攜手以成熟態度面對下,明天會更好。
升旗典禮的出席嘉賓包括今年將競選牛頓市市長的牛頓市現任市議長藍儂Scott Lennon),牛頓市議員萊斯(John Rice),波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬,梅錫銳,紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊等。
兼具波士頓華僑文教中心房東身分的約翰萊斯表示,和僑教中心合作,一幌10年,不但建成花園,可種花草蔬菜做沙拉,還闢出升旗台廣場,明年將增設一支旗桿,讓中美國旗能一同飄揚。
僑教中心主任歐宏偉透露今年的升旗典禮,特地安排榮光會理事長石家孝、國民黨波士頓分部常委張韻蘭和台灣移民第二代的譚鼎翰曾琦恩一起當升旗手,藉以鼓勵世代傳承。
會中,經文處處長賴銘琪還頒發紀念國父150歲誕辰活動有功團體獎狀給麻州元極舞聯誼會及僑教中心志工等社團,另頒發個人獎給石家孝,陳家驊。經文處處長賴銘琪還送給每名出席者一條有國旗及國民黨黨徽圖案的圍巾,僑教中心送出僑委會2017年月曆。
     這天的升旗典禮,由中華民俗藝術工作坊團長張昆以廣東話,國語雙聲帶主持,該團演出的鼓舞奔騰,"台灣上水ㄟ油桐花",祥龍再添,繁花似錦,活鈴活現,歡樂歌等。慶祝活動最後在台灣有你真好"的舞蹈表演中落幕。






奧巴馬告別白宮公開信

The White House, Washington

In 1796, as George Washington set the precedent for a peaceful, democratic transfer of power, he also set a precedent by penning a farewell address to the American people. And over the 220 years since, many American presidents have followed his lead.
I'm just beginning to write my remarks. But I'm thinking about them as a chance to say thank you for this amazing journey, to celebrate the ways you've changed this country for the better these past eight years, and to offer some thoughts on where we all go from here.
Since 2009, we've faced our fair share of challenges, and come through them stronger. That's because we have never let go of a belief that has guided us ever since our founding -- our conviction that, together, we can change this country for the better.
Because, for me, it's always been about you.
President Barack Obama