波士頓台灣盃壘球開打 經文處險勝中華公所

駐波士頓台北經文處隊和紐英崙中華公所隊賽前合影。(周菊子攝)

右起，中華公所主席陳家驊，波士頓經文處長賴銘琪和波士頓僑教
中心主任歐宏偉。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導) 波士頓台灣盃壘球賽4月29日由駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處和紐英崙中華公所在牛頓市鄉村學校(Countryside)球場率先對決，三，四十名球員頻出狀況，場中爆笑連連，5局後經文處以8比7告捷。下一場預定6月中舉行。

波士頓經文處幾乎全員出動。右起，副處長陳銘俊，僑教中心主任歐
宏偉，新聞組長朱永昌，副組長陳文昌，處長賴銘琪(左一)。(周菊子攝)

               駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪表示，推出”波士頓台灣盃壘球賽”，主要是希望藉著”以球會友”，帶動第二，三代僑胞後裔加入僑社大家庭，為僑社傳承，以及在傳統僑社和郊區僑社之間搭起更密切的友誼橋樑，凝聚起社區力量。

               賴銘琪指出，將來甚至邀請本地州市政府官員，民代，政要組隊比賽，進一步推動僑社和主流社會之間的交流。

中華公所主席陳家驊(左)，曾任余風彩棠主席的余定邦(右)當
啦啦隊。(周菊子攝)

               4月29日的這場比賽，經文處幾乎全員出動，不但處長賴銘琪，處長夫人雲雯蓁，副處長陳銘俊，新聞組長朱永昌，副組長陳文昌，波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉，一名經文處新僱員全都上場了，還招攬僱庸兵，把歐宏偉體魄健壯的兒子，兩名記者都拉攏進隊。

               紐英崙中華公所在主席陳家驊領軍下，不但翁宇才，朱蘇珊，陳文浩，李翠屏等職員們全體到齊，前任中華公所主席阮鴻燦，李氏公所主席李源沛都來助陣，公所職員們的配偶，姻親，包括余寶愛，翁金怡，余樹昌等人都加入揮棒，捕球行列。至孝篤親公所的中文書記單鳳琴，曾任余風彩棠主席的余定邦夫婦，超武館的葉師傅等人都來加油。

經文處長賴銘琪當投手。(周菊子攝)

               牛頓市市議員約翰萊斯(John Rice)，每年主辦國慶盃壘球賽的竹蜻蜓壘球俱樂部創辦人王志維也特地在開場時到會致意。

               這場比賽，誠如經文處處長賴銘琪形容的，不計輸贏，志在聯誼。兩隊成員中不少人還是第一次打壘球，連遊戲規則都不懂就上場了，揮棒打到球，還居然不知道得跑步上壘，把場邊觀賽隊友急得全都喊了起來。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉打球很有架勢。(周菊子攝)

經文處處長夫人雲雯蓁也是第一次打壘球。不過到底她來自壘球王國台灣，上場當捕手，也能和當投手的處長賴銘琪搭配無間。只是沒想到在沙地上跑得穿有釘的鞋，她在跑步搶壘時一滑，手肘當場掛彩，白長褲上兩個膝蓋頭那兒也都沾上黃土一片。

整場比賽中的最強棒，大概非歐主任的兒子莫屬。他不但體魄壯碩，還兩臂肌肉飽滿，一揮棒就是全壘打架勢，連送好幾名隊友回本壘奪分。最有經驗的球員，應該是余寶愛的哥哥，從小就在地方上的棒球聯盟中打球的余樹昌。最認真的要屬阮鴻燦，守一壘時為接球封殺上壘者，好幾次跌得四腳朝天。

余樹昌打球經驗豐富。

比賽結束後，經文處請兩隊在波士頓華僑文教中心享用自助餐，唱卡拉OK聯誼。由處長夫人雲雯蓁率先獻唱”月亮代表我的心”。

波士頓台灣盃壘球賽將由經文處組隊，和波士頓僑團，學生會隊伍陸續比賽，聯誼。(圖片已於4/30發表)

開賽沒多久就有人受傷了。

翁宇才(中)當裁判，賴銘琪(左)用手勢幫忙。

陳文浩也當投手。

起鬨拍照。

球員們在波士頓僑教中心唱卡拉OK。

波士頓市府首次舉辦多元就業展 (圖片)

Tri-Caucus Chairs Submit Amendments to Omnibus Bill

Tri-Caucus Chairs Submit Amendments to Omnibus Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to increase transparency, defend civil rights, and keep the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accountable to their mission, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Cedric Richmond (LA-02), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) – submitted three amendments to the omnibus funding bill and released the following joint statement:

“The taxpayers we represent are asking for accountability from DHS. The Trump Administration would have us believe that DHS is using their limited resources to target terrorists and national security threats, yet the stories of separated families and fear in immigrant communities say otherwise. While DHS leaders like Secretary John Kelly assure Members of Congress that they are focused on targeting dangerous individuals, the data show that about half of those picked up in recent coordinated enforcement actions have no criminal convictions or simple traffic offenses, and only .01 percent of recent immigration-related prosecutions were for dangerous criminal acts. Too often we have received reports of civil rights and due process violations or heard conflicting stories following arrests and deportations. These sensible amendments would implement tried and tested accountability measures and ensure that the funds allocated to DHS are used responsibly. Although these amendments were rejected by the Rules Committee, we are committed to continue fighting on behalf of all of our communities.”

·         DEFEND CIVIL RIGHTS: The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, no later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, develop and implement a plan to provide ethics, civil rights, conflict management, and proper due process training to all current and future U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers.

·         TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY: The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, no later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, ensure that agents and officers of U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection wear body cameras when such agents and officers are engaged in official operations.

·         PRIOTIZE NATIONAL SECURITY: None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to increase the number of U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement Agents until the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, develops and implements a plan to restrict access to firearms and explosives from individuals on any no-fly list or terrorist watch list.

新英格蘭台商會藉土地規畫讓房地產增值講座(圖片)

新英格蘭台商會副會長林海倫(左起)，Chris Argyrople，會長歐陽露，

Topic: Ways to add value to Real Estate via Land Planning and Development

Location: 90 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands, MA 02461

Speaker:
*Chris Argyrople, Triad Alpha Partners*John F. Cremmen, Denenberg Realty Advisors, www.DenenbergRealty.com

Sponsored by Jim Bain, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, www.jimcbain.com

General Description:
The presentation will focus on what drives value in real estate and how to think about investing across the spectrum of cash flow deals, renovation projects, and land acquisition and development.  We will review the risks and potential rewards of investing in land & development projects.  Question & Answer period to follow.

​RSVP: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tccne-seminar-ways-to-add-value-to-real-estate-via-land-planning-and-development-tickets-32546710086

Chris Argyrople's Bio:

Chris Argyrople is an entrepreneurial investor with 20 years of experience as an early employee and launching successful investment firms, including Acadian Asset Management, PAR Capital Management, Delta Partners, Concentric Investments, and Triad Alpha Partners.  In addition, he served as a consultant to State Street Bank to design SSGA’s initial International Investment Strategies.  His teams have a demonstrated history of generating exceptional returns for investors (averaging 20% over the past 15 years). He has helped grow three of these companies from their start-up phase to more than $2 billion in capital. 

Chris received his MS in Management from MIT’s Sloan School, and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  For the past 20 years, he has taught graduate finance courses at Boston College and Suffolk University, and he has been a CFA test prep instructor.

During his tenure at Triad Alpha Partners, Chris and his partner put together six real estate deals, primarily focusing on land acquisition and development.

John F. Cremmen

​'s​

 Bio:

John F. Cremmen has been in the Greater Boston real estate brokerage industry since 1982.  As Senior Vice President at Denenberg Realty Advisors he focuses on Investment Sales, Acquisitions and Leasing of Office & Industrial Properties. Prior to working at Denenberg Realty Advisors, Mr. Cremmen was a Senior Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle for fifteen years and before that he was a Senior Vice President at the Peter Elliott Real Estate Company.  

In 2005 Mr. Cremmen was awarded Downtown Deal of the Year by the Commercial Brokers Association for the Crosstown Center Lease of 101,000 SF to Boston University.  For several years he has been in the Greater Boston Real Estate Board Multi-Million Dollar Club.

Mr. Cremmen has sold numerous multi-family, condominium and apartment developments in Boston including The 1850 (60 Units), D Flats (197 Units), ABC Lofts (100 Units), Signal Apartments (70 Units) and 248 Dot (33 Units).  He has also conducted multiple Non-Profit, Governmental and Institutional transactions and acquisitions in the Greater Boston area.  Mr. Cremmen has a keen understanding of Boston’s transitional and evolving markets through his extensive work throughout Greater Boston.  

Mr. Cremmen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Finance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  He is also on the Board of Directors of the Newmarket Business Association and the Backstreets Mayoral Advisory Committee.

Baker-Polito Administration Awards Community Investment Tax Credits to 48 Community Development Corporations

Baker-Polito Administration Awards Community Investment Tax Credits to 48 Community Development Corporations

Community Investment Tax Credits allow non-profit CDCs to leverage private investments for housing and services

BOSTON – Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced a total of $6 million in tax credit allocations to 46 Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and two Community Support Organizations under the state’s Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) program.

The CITC program allows local residents and stakeholders to work with community development corporations, which partner with nonprofit, public and private entities to improve economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income households and communities. Since the program’s inception in 2014, CDCs across the Commonwealth have significantly increased their ability to raise funding from private investment: the CITC program has generated over $22.8 million in private investments across Massachusetts in the last three years.

“We are committed to working closely with local leaders and advocates to build stronger communities across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This program will enable Community Development Corporations to address important local issues, build foundations for economic growth and opportunities to support those who need it most in their regions and neighborhoods.”

“Encouraging community and private partnerships can spur local investment and solutions in Massachusetts’ cities and towns,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The increased community development capacity this program creates will drive growth across all zip codes in the Commonwealth.”

“Our municipalities have tremendous potential that Community Development Corporations help to leverage for sustained growth,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “This work, done across the Commonwealth, creates thriving communities with opportunities for all to participate in, and benefit from a growing economy.”

“Supporting our Community Development Corporations through the Community Investment Tax Credit helps them to help families find homes and jobs, grow businesses, and bring communities together,” said Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay. “This work helps our residents, supports our businesses, and grows our statewide economy.”

“We are grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration for its strong commitment to the community development field, as evidenced by this remarkable investment in Community Development Corporations across the state,” said Joseph Kriesberg, President & CEO of MACDC.  “These tax credit allocations are going to empower locally-driven, public-private partnerships that will expand economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in every corner of our state.”

The CITC program awards up to $150,000 in credit allocations to certified CDCs. CDCs apply for tax credits to support fundraising for the development and implementation of their community investment plan from the CITC program. Individuals, corporations and other entities that make a cash contribution resulting in a qualified investment to an awarded CDC will earn tax credits equal to fifty percent of the total qualified investment made by the taxpayer. CDCs were awarded credits based on the CDC’s demonstrated progress implementing its CIP and past utilization of previous credit allocations. 

2017 Community Investment Tax Credit Recipients:

ACT Lawrence: $50,000

Allston Brighton CDC: $150,000

Asian CDC (Boston): $135,000

Codman Square NDC (Dorchester): $150,000

Community Development Partnership (Eastham): $120,000

Community Teamwork Inc. (Lowell) : $129,615

Dorchester Bay EDC: $79,615

Downtown Taunton Foundation: $50,000

Fenway CDC (Boston): $150,000

Franklin County CDC (Greenfield): $129,615

Groundwork Lawrence: $150,000

Harborlight Community Partners (Beverly): $150,000

HAP Housing (Springfield): $150,000

Hilltown CDC (Chesterfield): $150,000

Housing Assistance Corp. Cape Cod: $150,000

Housing Corp. of Arlington: $129,615

Housing Nantucket: $150,000

Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA) (Boston): $129,615

Island Housing Trust (Martha’s Vineyard): $150,000

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corp: $150,000

Just-A-Start (Cambridge): $125,000

Lawrence Community Works: $150,000

Lena Park CDC (Dorchester): $50,000

Local Initiatives Support Coalition Boston: $129,615

Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (Boston): $150,000

Madison Park CDC (Roxbury): $150,000

Main South CDC (Worcester): $125,000

NeighborWorks (Quincy): $129,615

NewVue Communities (Fitchburg): $150,000

Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (East Boston): $150,000

North Shore CDC (Salem): $129,615

Nuestra Comunidad (Roxbury): $150,000

Oak Hill CDC (Worcester): $129,615

Quaboag Valley CDC (Ware): $129,615

Revitalize CDC (Springfield): $150,000

Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council (Framingham): $150,000

Somerville Community Corp.: $150,000

South Boston NDC: $79,615

Southwest Boston CDC (Hyde Park): $60,000

The Neighborhood Developers (Chelsea): $150,000

Urban Edge (Roxbury): $150,000

Valley CDC (Holyoke): $150,000

WATCH CDC (Waltham): $129,615

WHALE (New Bedford): $129,615

Worcester Common Ground: $150,000

Worcester East Side CDC: $100,000

三大基金會主管5/3晚討論波士頓2030遠景

IMAGINE BOSTON 2030 TO HOLD SECOND ''FORUMS ON THE FUTURE" DISCUSSION

BOSTON - Tuesday, May 2, 2017 - As part of Imagine Boston 2030's ongoing engagement efforts, tomorrow Imagine Boston 2030 will host the second "Forums on the Future," a series of panel discussions designed to engage panelists on how Boston has changed as a city, the role philanthropy has played in shaping its evolution and future, and how residents can help shape its future. The topic for Wednesday's discussion is "The Role of Philanthropy in the Future of Our City" and will be moderated by Sacha Pfeiffer of the Boston Globe. The panel discussion is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Learn about event details and registering. WHEN:       Wednesday, May 3                    6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.                    Doors open at 5:30 WHERE:     Faneuil Hall,                     Great Hall    WHO:           Featured panelists include: Sacha Pfeiffer, Moderator, Boston Globe reporter, former WBUR/NPR host Jim Canales, Barr Foundation Paul Grogan, The Boston Foundation Jocelyn Sargent, Hyams Foundation The final panel is "How Academic Institutions Play a Role in Boston's Future" on Tuesday, May 9 at the Boston Public Library, Copley Square. For more details, please visit forumsonthefuture.eventbrite.com

FOUR INDIVIDUALS CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH OPERATING AN ORGANIZED ILLEGAL GAMING AND MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME

FOUR INDIVIDUALS CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH OPERATING AN ORGANIZED ILLEGAL GAMING AND MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME

Illegal Gaming Company Allegedly Laundered More than $1 Million in Proceeds

SALEM – Four individuals have been charged in connection with operating an illegal gaming and money laundering scheme through a North Andover company, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The company, Four Star Vending, Inc., and its owners, William Morley, age 62, and his wife Bonnie Morley, age 53, both of Middleton, were arraigned in Essex Superior Court today on the charges of Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (one count), Organizing and Promoting Gambling (one count), Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (one count), Money Laundering (one count) and Conspiracy (three counts).

            At the arraignment, the Morleys pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released on personal recognizance. They are due back in Essex Superior Court for a pretrial conference on June 5. Four Star Vending and the Morleys were indicted by a Statewide Grand Jury on March 27.

Authorities allege that the Morleys, through Four Star Vending, were distributing illegal gaming devices – which can be described as video slot and poker machines played for cash payouts – to bars, social clubs and other such establishments throughout Massachusetts and into New York. Authorities allege that employees of Four Star regularly traveled to these establishments to collect the proceeds from the slot machines and shared the profits from the gaming machines with the owners of the establishments that housed the machines. 

                “We allege the owners and employees of this gaming company used their business as a front to illegally launder over a million dollars for their own profit,” AG Healey said. “The charges today are the culmination of a months-long joint investigation with our partners in law enforcement, and we will continue to work with them to investigate and prosecute those who commit these crimes and operate schemes using unregulated and illegal gambling machines.”

            Four Star Vending employee Richard Calhoun, age 50, of Peabody, was previously indicted by a Statewide Grand Jury on March 27 on the charges of Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (one count), Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (one count), and Conspiracy (two counts). He will be arraigned in Essex Superior Court at a later date. 

            Anthony Mazzola, age 56, of Newton, a manager at one of the social clubs operating Four Star gaming machines, was also indicted by a Statewide Grand Jury on March 27. He was charged with Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (one count), Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (one count), and Conspiracy (two counts). He will be arraigned in Essex Superior Court on May 9.

“These illegal gaming devices, placed in social clubs and other locations, allowed the defendants to pick the pockets of countless unsuspecting patrons,” Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will hold these defendants and any others who engage in illegal gaming accountable.”

“Illegal gambling siphons revenue from legitimate, regulated games like those offered by the state Lottery,” Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg said. “Our Lottery operates under strict rules of transparency and delivers its profits to every city and town across the Commonwealth in the form of unrestricted local aid. I stand with the Attorney General in rooting out any unsanctioned activities or fraudulent machines that put consumers and state revenues at risk.”

“I thank the men and women of the Massachusetts State Police, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office for their diligence throughout the investigation that led to today’s indictments,” said Michael Sweeney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery. “Inherently, illegal gambling is predatory gambling and the Lottery is glad to have played a role in removing these machines and protecting consumers and business owners alike.”

In addition to distributing illegal slot machines, Four Star was also supplying and servicing ATMs, jukeboxes, vending machines, and other amusement devices to its customers. The company allegedly used this part of its business as a means for laundering the illegal gaming proceeds.

A joint investigation into Four Star Vending by Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to AG Healey’s Office and the Massachusetts State Lottery, as well as the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, yielded considerable evidence of the company’s illegal gaming and money laundering operation including 200 gaming machines, approximately $1.4 million in illegal proceeds and 11 vehicles used to facilitate the criminal activity.

These charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Gina Masotta and Thomas Caldwell of AG Healey’s Gaming Enforcement Division along with Special Assistant Attorney General Phil Mallard of the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Essex County Assistant District Attorney Frank MacDonald is handling the asset forfeiture component of the case. The investigation was conducted by troopers and civilian investigators assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Gaming Enforcement Division, the Massachusetts State Lottery, Special Service Section, Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Gang Unit and Technical Surveillance Unit, Financial Investigator Krista Roche and other investigators assigned to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Gaming Enforcement Division, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, the Alcohol and Beverage Control Commission of the Massachusetts Treasurer’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Lab. The investigation received support and assistance from the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.