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星期六, 12月 23, 2017

波士頓安良工商會迎冬至 會員團聚共享台山湯圓

駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪(左四),波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉和
波士頓安良工商會要員合影。左起,伍輝民,司徒炳聰,波士頓安良
工商會會長陳仕維,鄧北海,翁英宏,陳文浩,周榮佳。(周菊子攝)
(Boston Orange ) 波士頓安良工商會在1222日中午,匯聚會所,輪流上香祭拜關公,圍桌享用台山湯圓,慶祝冬至,約50餘人出席,熱鬧、溫馨。
駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪,僑教中心主任歐宏偉應邀到會,恭賀陳仕維和黃立輝連任主席,感謝該會支持中華民國政府,也嘉許該會對僑社的貢獻。
祝波士頓經文處處長賴明琪(左二)和波士頓僑教中心種任歐宏偉(右一)
應邀出席波士頓安良冬至聚會,與幫辦翁英宏(右二),財政陳文浩(左一)
等人一起上香。(周菊子攝)
              今年擔任波士頓安良自治會長的陳仕維透露,冬至邀會員回到會所團聚,享用湯圓,其實也是近年才又恢復的僑社風氣。他特地說明,和一般人想像中的湯圓不同,台山湯圓是鹹的,湯圓本身是用純糯米製作的,顆粒小,沒有餡,配上雞肉,臘肉,白蘿蔔,大白菜,冬菇,魚塊,蝦米等等配料,加水熬煮成湯,不但台山人自己愛吃,很多人嚐過後都讚不絕口。
              高齡已91歲的安良會員黃毓祺這天也特地出席,和安良會員敘舊。

              即將接任安良財政的陳文浩表示,波士頓安良工商會從兩年前整頓改組後,已完成大樓翻修等工程,今年在總會協調下,上屆的聯選及自治兩名會長,職位對調,仍然由黃立輝,陳仕維出掌大位。該會已訂1226日舉行新屆職員就職典禮,明年將組團參加全美安良工商會年會。



波士頓安良工商會會長陳仕維(右一),財政陳文浩(左一),
和波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪,波士頓僑教中心主任
歐宏偉享用台山湯圓。(周菊子攝)

Cranston, RI showing strong financial management

CRANSTON, RI—Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung is highlighting the recently-completed fiscal 2017 audit of the city’s finances that shows Cranston continues on a path of strong financial management.

The audit, completed by the city’s outside auditing firm, Marcum, LLP, shows that the city ended with a $123,000 operating surplus despite reductions in state aid, state payments in lieu of taxes at the Pastore complex and higher-than-expected snow removal costs last winter. The reduction in state aid totaled nearly $900,000 alone.

“The results of this year’s audit shows Cranston finished another year in the black and continues on a path of stable finances and strong fiscal management,” commented Mayor Fung. “We have another cumulative surplus and were able to continue adding to our rainy day fund, which, at more than $20 million, remains one of the largest of any Rhode Island municipality. I thank our team in the Finance Department, the City Council and all city employees who work together to provide quality services to our residents and ensure we spend taxpayer dollars wisely.”

A copy of the audit can be viewed here: http://web.cranstonri.org/Clerkdocs/Audit/Audit2017.pdf

華人前進會與州市議員攜手爭取立法保護勞工薪資

The Chinese Progressive Association and State Representative Aaron Michlewitz joined community stakeholders and victims of wage theft for a rally in support of state legislation to curb wage theft and to promote employer accountability.


BOSTON, MA – In a lunchtime rally, members of the Chinese Progressive Association and state and local leaders joined together in support of the Massachusetts wage theft bill (S 999 / H 1033) and to demand missing pay for workers.

"Our workers center has been around for 30 years. Wage theft is the most common problem that we have seen among workers. These builders are making huge profits from renovations but are paying their workers nothing. We have to stand up to stop wage theft," said Karen Y. Chen, Executive Director of the Chinese Progressive Association, while addressing the energized crowd.

The legislation, that passed the Senate last session and was reintroduced in January, seeks to prevent wage law violations by granting additional power to the Attorney General to hold employers and contractors accountable.

"House Bill 1033 would be a great step to get the Attorney General what she needs to help workers. We have over 140 sponsors, which shows that this is a problem, not just in Boston, but in all of Massachusetts. We need to get this bill passed to stop this from happening to Massachusetts' workers," said Representative Michlewitz, who introduced the bill in January this year.

"I stand with workers in our community to stop wage theft. This is a serious problem in my district and in the state," said Boston City Councilor-Elect Ed Flynn, who also attended the event in Downtown Boston.

Boston City Councilor-Elect Kim Janey 
also marched with attendees lending her support for wage theft legislation.

The rally was also attended by workers from the Chinese community who contend they fell prey to predatory contractors involved in wage theft, which frequently impacts immigrant workers, particularly in the construction industry.

"We have to use worker and community power to stop wage theft. People need to be paid for the work they do. When people don't get paid, they can't support their families or live a healthy life," said Wei Min Zheng, a Quincy resident and a victim of wage theft.

Wage theft has been a chronic problem in Massachusetts and around the country, where few remedies are currently available for victims, particularly vulnerable workers in immigrant communities. For more information about wage theft, and the push for legislation in Massachusetts, please visit 
http://www.stopmasswagetheft.org.

 The rallying wage theft victims are working with the Chinese Progressive Association, a grassroots community organization which works for full equality and empowerment of the Chinese community in the Greater Boston area and beyond. Their activities seek to improve the living and working conditions of Chinese Americans and to involve community members in making decisions that affect their communities. For more information on the Chinese Progressive Association please visit 
http://www.cpaboston.org.
 
華人前進會和麻州代表麦家威(Aaron Michlewitz)加入社區利益相關者和工資盜竊受害者的集會,支持州立法,遏制工資盜騙,促進雇主問責。

馬薩諸塞州波士頓 -中午時間在集會上,華人前進會成員和聯同州和地方領袖一起支持馬薩諸塞州反盜騙工資法案(S 999 / H 1033),並要求討回工人工資。

我們的工人中心已經有三十年了,盜騙工資是我們工人中心所見到的最普遍的問題,這些承建商從裝修中賺取巨額利潤,卻沒有給工人一分錢,我們必須站出來阻止盜騙工資的情況,華人前進會執行主任陳玉珍(Karen Y. Chen)在集會中表示。
 通過參議院上次會議並将在1月份重新提出, 立法旨在通過賦予總檢察長額外的權力來握监督雇主和承包商的責任,防止違反工資法律。

“”議會法案1033 “將是向司法部長提供幫助工人所需要的一大步,我們有140多個團體贊助,這表明這不僅只發生在波士頓,而且也是馬薩諸塞州內的一個嚴重的問題。這個法案通過,以阻止這種情況發生在馬薩諸塞州的工人身上,州代表麦家威,他將會在今年1月在議會中介紹該法案。
波士頓市議員愛德華.费连 (Ed Flynn) 也出席了這個活動,他說:我和我們社區的工作人員一起阻止工資被盜,這在我們的地區和州內都是一個嚴重的問題。
波士頓市當選市議員金尼(Kim Janey)也參加了遊行,支持這個法案立法。

華人社區的工人也參加了這次集會,他們認為這些工人受到承建商掠奪性的盜騙工資,經常影響到移民工人,尤其是在建築行業中經常發生。

“我們必須用工人和社區的力量來制止偷骗工資,人們需要為他們所做的工作付錢,當工人沒有得到報酬時,他們不能養家糊口,過健康的生活. “鄭先生是昆西居民,也是盜竊工資的受害者。
盜騙工資在馬薩諸塞州和全國各地都是一個長期的問題,目前對受害者,特別是移民社區的弱勢工人來說,目前幾乎沒有最好的解決辦法。欲了解更多關於盜騙工資的信息,以及推動馬薩諸塞州的立法,請瀏覽http://www.stopmasswagetheft.org


集會中被盜騙 工資的受害者正和華人前進會合作,一個基層社區組織,致力於在大波士頓地區及以外的地區實現華人社區的完全平等和賦權。他們的活動旨在改善美藉華人的生活和工作條件,讓社區成員參與影響社區的決策。有關華人前進會的更多信息,請瀏覽http://www.cpaboston.org

中華頤養院慶聖誕 50耆英同歡

中華頤養院21日在波士頓華人佈道會所物街會址慶祝聖誕節,50多人享用營養早餐,唱歌,抽獎,與院長陳力(第二排右三)等人同樂。該院每月一次的營養早餐會新年度第一場訂1月25日早上9點半,在120 Shawmut Ave, Boston舉行。(圖由中華頤養院提供)

星期五, 12月 22, 2017

波士頓公校上學、放學時間不改了

            (Boston Orange)波士頓公校系統向來自家長,市議員的洶湧反對浪潮低頭,22日宣佈,明年秋天的上學、放學時間不改了。
            波士頓公校總監張欽棠在週五公佈的聲明中表示,將和學校社區合作,為來年的上學,放學訂定新時刻。

二週前,波士頓公校才宣佈要實施新的上學,放學時間。波士頓公校總監張欽棠表示,過去這幾星期,他們聽到了來自家長,學校員工,以及相關人士的許多反應。他們明白,儘管新時間會達到他們支持所有年級學生在學業上成功的目地,但是變動許多學校的上學時間對許多家庭造成的困擾之大,遠超過他們的預想。

星期四, 12月 21, 2017

波士頓來春10條巴士路線試行專用車道

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR SPRING PILOT PROGRAM FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF TESTING ON EXCLUSIVE BUS LANE ON WASHINGTON STREET IN ROSLINDALE
Multi-week pilot program will be implemented next spring 
BOSTON - Thursday, December 20, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh in partnership with the Boston Transportation Department and MBTA today announced the successful completion of testing done on an exclusive bus lane on Washington Street from Roslindale Village to Forest Hills Station. As a result of the success of the testing conducted during the morning commute, a multi-week pilot program is being planned for implementation next spring. Over 60 percent of all individuals' travel in this corridor results from buses, which includes 10 different routes. The exclusive bus lane was also shared with riders on bicycles.

"The testing of an exclusive lane for use by MBTA buses, school buses and bicycles on Washington Street in Roslindale was well received by both bus riders and cyclists," said Mayor Walsh. "Observations made during the test runs, as well as feedback from the community, will help us to design a comprehensive pilot program to determine the benefits of an exclusive bus and bike lane on this busy street."

Testing took place on Tuesday, December 12, and Tuesday, December 19, from 5 AM to 9 AM.  The inbound parking lane on Washington Street, between Roslindale Village and Forest Hills, was separated from general traffic through the use of 135 orange traffic cones that were placed temporarily along an approximately 1.5 mile stretch of Washington Street. Numerous MBTA buses and Boston Public Schools buses, along with a steady stream of cyclists, took advantage of the congestion-free exclusive lane to reach Forest Hills.

"Prioritizing buses between Roslindale Village and Forest Hills is a priority project outlined in Go Boston 2030, the City of Boston's long-term transportation plan," said Boston Transportation Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca. "It is one of many new projects and policies being explored in an effort to ensure that Boston's streets welcome all users of the roadway safely, effectively and equitably. Examples of Go Boston 2030 initiatives that have recently been implemented or are underway include two new Neighborhood Slow Streets programs in Jamaica Plain and Dorchester, traffic safety improvements along Kneeland Street in Chinatown, and the construction of a new parking protected bike lane on Beacon Street in the Back Bay."

"The MBTA is pleased to be working with the City of Boston to try a bus-only lane during the morning rush hour in Roslindale," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. "The trial run of the dedicated lane will help the City evaluate data as officials try to balance the needs of MBTA customers on buses, people who park along Washington Street and people who drive, to ensure there is a fair allotment of street space between them. Our hope is that we'll be able to find a way to make our buses work more efficiently, to give our current passengers better service and to attract new bus riders. The MBTA is striving to improve service, be a great collaborator, try pilots, and if they work, try to implement them."

The bus lane test runs took place on Tuesdays to correspond with an existing street cleaning regulation that already prohibits parking on Washington Street in the early morning hours. A temporary "Tow Zone, No Stopping" regulation extended the prohibition through 9 AM.  Flyers were distributed, temporary signs were posted and variable message boards announcing the initiative were placed on site in advance of the two Tuesdays to ensure neighborhood and commuter notification. Construction work at the location was restricted during the impacted hours. BTD, MBTA and BPS staff was on Washington Street for the duration of the two test runs to witness the impacts of the exclusive lane first hand, and to ensure that people using all modes of traffic were accommodated.

Planning for the spring pilot program will include more in depth evaluation of the effectiveness of the exclusive lane. Roslindale residents and other community members are strongly encouraged to participate in the upcoming planning process.

羅德島華人基督教會辦音樂會籌款濟助圖書館、中國學生交換項目

羅德島華人基督教會翻修新樣貌。(周菊子攝)
(Boston Orange 周菊子羅德島州報導)羅德島華人基督教會1216日晚,再度邀得Wakefield音樂會樂隊演奏,在教會禮拜堂舉辦假日音樂會,為羅州中央瀑布市的亞當紀念圖書館,以及羅州普塔基市學區中國學生交換項目籌款,華洋社區有400多人出席共襄盛舉。
               路加(Luke)慈善基金會合夥人,也是羅德島華人基督教會執事的吳子平,代表路加基金,當晚給前述圖書館及中國學生交換項目各捐了5000元,依序由Janice Argentieri,以及Erin Papa 博士代表接受。
Wakefield Concert Band演奏。(周菊子攝)
               羅德島華人基督教會牧師艾偉信在音樂會末介紹的手工精製薄被拍賣,每套20元,買二送一,也籌得至少1500元。
               今年是羅德島華人基督教會建堂40週年,教堂入門處外觀經過大幅整修,二樓一整片玻璃牆,入夜後散發著亮光,讓路過的人都覺得格外溫暖。
               吳子平指出,2016年時,因為教堂翻修,這音樂會停辦一年,今年他們很高興能夠繼續舉辦這活動,向大家展示教堂新外貌,新地毯,新辦公室,以及新增的教學課程。該會舉辦這活動,主要是為回饋社區,讓每個人都能感受到聖誕假日氣氛,能夠同聲高唱喜樂滿世間
羅德島華人基督教會執事吳子平說明捐款支持地方機構。(周菊子攝)
               Wakefield音樂會樂隊主任Steve Toro當晚率30 餘人組成的大樂隊,演奏光明節之音(Festive Sound of Hanukah)”聖誕節給你自己一個快樂的小聖誕聖誕歌乘雪撬白色聖誕假日鍾愛等歌曲,現場還安排了3名聲樂家演唱。
羅德島華人基督教會艾偉信牧師籲請出席者購買被套,支持善舉。
(周菊子攝)
               普塔基學校部門的Michael Connolly表示,由於路加基金會的慷愾支持,已有100多名該市高中生得以遠赴中國,和衡水高中學生交流,親自體驗中國的學術,文化,社會。                                              亞當圖書館的Janice表示,該館建於1910年。20117月時,因為中央瀑布市出現財政危機,亞當圖書館被迫關門,後來經過一批熱心人士努力,該館重新開門,儘管一週只開門三天,許多無力負擔上網費用的居民,或是沒錢為小孩買學校指定讀物的家長們,卻都因此得以喘口氣。20119月底,更多熱心人士組成了拯救這圖書館團,義賣籌款,才終於讓該館得以重新加入羅德島州圖書館系統(Ocean State Libraries)。路加基金會的捐款,對該館的得以繼續開門經營,幫助很大。(圖片已於12月17日發表)
              

Wakefield Concert Band謝幕。(周菊子攝)





胡少娟(前左)等人也都來支持活動。(周菊子攝)
羅德島華人基督教會在聖誕樹旁擺義賣攤。(周菊子攝)
羅德島華人基督教會執事吳子平(右)歡迎羅德島大學孔子學院院長
何文潮(左)到會。(周菊子攝)

羅德島華人基督教會葉桂珍(右)回答出席者提問。(周菊子攝)

羅德島華人教會宋建人醫師也在會場拍照。(周菊子攝)
羅德島華人基督教會葉超。(周菊子攝)




中華網協企業家俱樂部邀高建新、蕭德全分享創業經驗

中華網協企業家俱樂部講座合影。(網協eClub提供)
               (Boston Orange 周菊子華森市報導) 紐英崙中華資訊網路協會(NECINA)企業家俱樂部1116日以人工智能時代如何拓展企業為題,舉辦講座,邀得劍橋美國高中聯盟共同創辦人高建新,創星方案(Creative Star Solutions)共同創辦人蕭德全分享經驗。
            劍橋美國高中聯盟是一家教育機構,最近研發出一套軟體,容許該公司在大幅度擴展之際,仍能有效管理,為學生,家長,以及合作學校或夥伴提供更好的服務。
網協企業家俱樂部負責人高弘。(周菊子攝)
               高建新的講題是如何經由跨文化創新來成功創辦教育企業(How to make education startup success by cross cultural innovation)”。他在會中表示,他和林欣偉兩夫婦在中國原本從事貿易行業,經營有成後,移民來美,希望從公益角度為社會做貢獻,才走上教育這條路,以留美高中生為對象,分析出中美市場痛點,找出解決方案後,又歷經7年琢磨改進,創新了商業模式,如今已有300多所美國學校和他們合作,由他們分佈在中美越,南韓等國,能操37種語言的400多名員工提供服務。      
劍橋美國高中聯盟共同創辦人高建新。(周菊子攝)
            來美學習低齡化的趨勢,近年越見明顯。高建新坦言,當年他們踏進這行時,全美只有大約600名從中國來美的留學生,但這些小留學生絕大多數都在美舉目無親,也乏人監管,卻需要適應和中國不同的教育制度,陌生環境,以及完全不認識的老師,同學,還要使用另一種語言來生活,壓力其實很大,美國學校,寄宿家庭其實也並不容易理解來自不同文化背景的學生,劍橋高中聯盟察覺到這些狀況,一直在從解決問題,在學業,生活,甚至人生規劃上來幫助這些高中生的角度努力。
OxOne創辦人蕭德全。(周菊子攝)
            高建新認為,7年下來,劍橋美國高中聯盟在各個環節上,已經做出一些成果,為10,000多名學生提供過服務,最近應用大數據科技研發出一套他們稱為”Harmony (和諧)”的信息系統,將使得學生,住家,學校,家長,以及留學中介更及時的獲得所需信息,更有效率的互相溝通,做出最好的處理選擇。他相信目前市面上還沒有哪一家高中留學機構能提供這麼完善的服務。
            創星公司宣稱自己是獨一無二的孵化器,因為他們做的是仿效理想實驗室(Idealab)”,利用人工智能,把企業構想,在公司平台下輔導上路。
主講者回答提問。(周菊子攝)
創星創辦人蕭德全獲有哥倫比亞大學營運博士學位。他這天主要是介紹該公司最新的創業項目,人工智能時代的企業管理系統 OxOne.io,既是一個平台,也是一項產品,以軟體做為服務(SaaS)方式,為企業提供一站式的資訊科技架構,支持企業營運。他們希望著眼於應用人工智能,還處於早期階段的初創公司,能借助OxOne的服務,迅速發展。
蕭德權解釋了OxOne能夠為企業提供客戶管理,員工協作等便利,還可以視企業行業的不同,搭配各種軟體,提供非常個性化的套裝組合,甚至還包括網站架設,移動網路平台等等。                                                                                紐英崙中華資訊網路協會的企業家俱樂部,目前由經營鐳射蝕刻的高弘負責,會計師張曉凡,網協幹部徐永光等人負責經營,有意加入者須先加入成為網協會員,本身是企業負責人,查詢可洽,eclub@necina.org。(圖片已於12月17日發表)