羅德島華人基督教會慶祝立會四十週年圖片

羅德島華人教會慶祝立會四十週年

左起，業超，吳子平，教會創辦人之一，黃天佑牧師。

羅德島華人基督教會於3月10日至12日，在普塔基市羅斯福大道會址，盛大慶祝創會40週年。包括40多名來自外國，他州的教徒，會友，不下700人歡聚一堂，參加培靈會，嘉年華會，感恩禮拜，見證教會按立姚學文傳道為牧師，分享”攜手同度約旦河”的主題，”你當剛強壯膽”的證道。

教會中英文堂牧師和執事們。

這一連兩日的創會40週年慶，第一天是嘉年華會，安排有遊戲，卡拉OK，畫臉，貼紙，展示手工藝品，教扯鈴等活動，中華民俗藝術工作坊也來支援擺攤。教會內的十多個團契還一大早趕到教會廚房，烹煮各色美食。

右起，葉超，鄭心恩，Steve Young，林佑彬等執事。

第二天是感恩崇拜，由吳子平執事歡迎宣召，陳本生長老帶領祈禱，英文堂崇拜小組及中文堂詩班分別獻上”我神真偉大”，”你信時何廣大”，”當讚美聖父”等讚美，黃天佑、Nelson Estrada兩名中英文堂牧師主持主餐”我曾捨命為你”，黃清泉牧師讀經書Joshua 1:1-9，葉超執事介紹鮑維均牧師證道”你當剛強壯膽”，接著由按立牧師檢定委員會的鮑維均，艾偉信，黃天佑，廖永誠等牧師為姚學文傳道主持按立牧師儀式。

左起，吳子平，胡少娟，葉桂珍，梁健操，孫幼偉等執事。

羅德島華人基督教會為誌記40週年，特地印製了一份1977-2017大事記，摘錄有不下70項過去40年間發生的重要大事，包括會址變遷至少3次，1次租，2次買。歷年聘過8名牧師，7名傳道，成立有以諾，青年(後改為喜樂)，先鋒少年，迦勒，家美(提摩太小組改組)，英語大學就業，迦南，兒童等至少11個團契，現有執事12人，包括陳本生，葉超，吳子平，宋建人，鄭心恩，林佑彬，胡少娟，孫幼偉，亓靄雲，梁健操，葉桂珍，Steve Young等。

執事中的葉超，和甫於2014年榮歸天家的李歐頡芳在1981年時獲按立為創會執事，歷年來曾任執事，後喬遷他州的還有黃清泉，蔡孫義臨，郭穎哲等人。

葉超(左)，胡少娟(右)以中英文介紹鮑維均牧師。

這40年來，在1977年3月16日正式成立的羅德島華人基督教會，還有過許多第一次。

第一次租會址，是在普域敦斯市(Providence)百老匯街160號的男青年會所。同年6月5日在第一次會員大會中選出施善為首屆主席。次年5月28日，按立樓鎧為牧師，陳本生為長老。

第一次斥資自置物業是1979年，以3.3萬元買下東普域敦斯市青年會舊址，第二次是1997年買下教會現址。

宋建人執事(右)為報維均牧師證道做翻譯。

此外，1981年開辦中文學校，1991年成立兒童崇拜日光會，1992年辦第一屆夏令退修會，1994年第一次辦教會郊遊，1996年第一次中英文聯合崇拜，2000年辦首屆婦女退修會，2002年辦第一屆差傳年會，2004年設立神學生基金，2006年開始辦餐福聚會，2012年舉辦四川省廣元市柳橋羅德島僑愛學校英語營短宣，2015年中國神學研究院”生命之道”開始在該教會辦生命之道查經課等這許多第一次，都是羅德島華人基督教會的成長見證。

後右起，黃天佑，廖永誠，前左起，艾偉信等牧師按立姚學文(前中)
傳道為牧師。

慶祝完立會40週年後，羅德島華人基督教會將於3月19日舉行中英文堂會員大會，選立執事﹑同工，4月20日到6月8日的每週四舉辦香港中國神學研究院”生命之道”民數記研經”查經班，4月28、29兩日舉辦第18界姊妹退修會，4月7日至9日國際家庭更新協會舉辦夫妻恩愛營。

吳子平執事(左)帶禱，宋建人執事翻譯。

羅德島華人教會的擴修堂址，預定2017年底完工。

Mayor Fung's prepared remarks on voting irregularities in Cranston

Mayor Fung’s Remarks on Voting Irregularities in Cranston

Over the course of the past year, much has been made at every level – local, state, and national – about ensuring the sanctity of our elections.  There are rules – strict rules – on who can cast a vote.  By and large we take it for granted that our elections are clean and fair, but we must be ever vigilant in protecting the system.  When the system is taken advantage of, we must confront it head on.  And this is what we are doing here today.

Over the course of the past few weeks, as a result of our normal post-election reconciliation of the ballot applications and the due diligence of our canvassing employees, several instances of voting irregularities have been identified from the 2016 elections in Cranston.  Let me be clear right from the start that absolutely none of these cases occurred in the District 15 state representative race.

The irregularities range from:

1.  two cases of suspected non-citizens being registered and actually voting in our city;

2.  two incidents of residents who allegedly voted by emergency ballot at city hall prior to election day and also in person at their normal location on November 8th;

3.  two residents who allegedly voted with a regular ballot at their polling location and then voted at city hall that same day for the President/Vice-President only;

4.  one person allegedly voting in both the April Presidential Primary and November General Election in Cranston and in Providence as well;

5.  one Cranston resident whose identity was allegedly used to be registered and a vote cast in a prior election in Providence without their knowledge or consent.

These are all ongoing investigations by the Cranston Police Department that will be referred to the Attorney General’s office for review for potential charges.

I want to thank the city’s new registrar, Nicholas Lima, the employees of the canvassing department and the Board of Canvassers for their due diligence in bringing these serious matters to the attention of the Cranston Police Department.  I cannot thank the Cranston Police Department enough, and especially Det. Lee Sohn, for their comprehensive and thorough investigation of these irregularities. 

Given that these are ongoing investigations, we must be very careful what we say here today.  However, for now, let me breakdown some of the major areas of concern that I see:

-        In light of loosening of the state election laws, the emergency ballot systems are now being exploited. 

-        We have identified two cases of suspected non US Citizens being registered to vote and casting votes. 

-        A separate case might actually not be a crime on their behalf at all, but one of stolen identity which will need to be addressed by the Board of Canvassers in Providence for further investigation. 

-        And better training of the poll workers must be organized by the state Board of Elections and/or RI Secretary of State’s Office.

While these irregularities are being investigated and handled by the Cranston Police Department with the assistance of the Attorney General’s office, we need to not only hold people accountable, but fix these loopholes and prevent this from happening again.

In light of what we have found, I am calling for the following:

1.  The emergency ballot process as a whole should be addressed as it is being taken advantage of by some in what is loosely being called “early voting.”  We absolutely must require Photo ID when citizens come to City Hall and fill out and vote with an in-person emergency ballot.  The original intent of the emergency ballot was to allow those who had medical emergencies, or those who were sent out of state for work unexpectedly, or the similar like, a backup system to cast their vote.  Emergencies happen, but the way the system is set up currently, there is no standard of proof for such, and some people were taking heavy advantage of that fact.

2.  We must incorporate real-time technology, such as the e-poll book piloted this year at some polls statewide, for all ballots cast.  This would allow for instantaneous detection of double voting attempts, versus an after the fact reconciliation.

3.  For those first time individuals coming in on election day to vote for President/Vice President only, there needs to be a system to check to see if these residents are already registered or not.

4.  The Secretary of State’s office needs to develop a system to prevent non-citizens from registering to vote, catching this act of perjury out front.  Secretary Gorbea absolutely must tighten up this process as the current system of using a Driver’s License or ID number appears to be inadequate.

5.  Finally, the Board of Elections must step up its training efforts for poll workers.  While these thoughtful residents of our community step up for each election, and we cannot thank them enough for their time and efforts, it appears as though there were areas that weren’t emphasized enough in the trainings, like the use of provisional ballots.

I will be reaching out in the next few days to Secretary Gorbea to share our findings in regards to what could be done better for the next election.  And with that, I am happy to take your questions.  

羅州普域敦斯市獲選為全美第3最佳小市

PROVIDENCE TAKES SPOTLIGHT AS #3 BEST SMALL CITY FOR A FILMMAKER

The Rhode Island Film & TV Office is pleased to announce that PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND was ranked #3 as Best Small City/Town for filmmakers on the continent by Moviemaker Magazine. The nation’s leading resource on the art and business of making movies and the world’s most widely read film magazine just announced its 17^th annual list of “Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker 2017” in all of North America, including Canada.

Weeks of research, interviews with film commissions and surveys of moviemakers were conducted to determine the best North American cities in which to practice the craft of cinema. Criteria included the amount of actual film production, support systems in the local film community and culture, such as film schools, festivals, independent movie theatres and film organizations, access to equipment and facilities, tax incentives, cost of living and a general category that encapsulated lifestyle, weather, transportation and other socio-cultural markers.

Governor Gina M. Raimondo stated, “We are honored that Moviemaker Magazine has once again recognized Providence as one of the very best cities in America to live and work as a filmmaker.  With our strong crew base and well established supporting infrastructure, along with our superb locations, restaurants, and cultural experiences, Providence, Rhode Island offers everything a filmmaker needs to live and grow while building a career here.”

Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Film & TV Office, said, “We are grateful that Moviemaker Magazine has recognized Providence and our Ocean State as a great home to live and work as a filmmaker in all of North America! With the support and assistance of the City of Providence’s Arts, Culture + Tourism Department, we have created an easy, one-stop shop for filmmakers requiring locations, permits, housing and other amenities.  In addition, the highly acclaimed Rhode Island International Film Festival annually hosts many filmmakers from around the globe whose first port of call to the United States is our State’s capital. Rhode Island’s very own colleges, universities and technical schools also produce scores of talented individuals in the field, many of whom stay in the area to showcase their amazing work.”

House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello stated, “The House of Representatives has always been very supportive of the filmmaking industry because we truly recognize the benefits to our state’s economy.  Our tax credit program is extremely competitive with neighboring states, and we have great workers, scenic and historic settings, and some of the nation’s finest colleges and cultural attractions.  We have a thriving film industry that I’m pleased is being recognized by Moviemaker Magazine.”     

Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed said, “Filmmakers have taken notice that our beautiful state is an exceptional place to live and work. Rhode Island is both diverse and compact, which lends itself wonderfully to the demands of the film industry. With a talented workforce in the industry, a thriving arts scene, and exceptional quality of life, Providence – and in fact all of Rhode Island – is the perfect place to make movies.” 

Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza commented,“Providence is the Creative Capital and film is an important part of Providence’s local economy. Our City staff work hard to make filming in Providence as easy as possible while also addressing needs of those impacted by projects. By working in partnership with the Rhode Island Film & TV Office, we are able to provide the highest levels of customer service to young artists and seasoned filmmakers alike.”

  

Please find the Moviemaker Magazine article below…

MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE ARTICLE, ISSUE 122
“BEST PLACES TO LIVE AND WORK AS A MOVIEMAKER 2017”

As an independent moviemaker, your life tends to be a mobile one.

You’re forever in search of the perfect landscapes, networks, resources and people to take your film from good to memorable, or even to life-changing. And while you’re at it, if you’re like most of us you often find yourself weighing the pros and cons of picking up stakes and relocating to your next home base, where the work promises to be a little bit steadier and the quality of life just a little bit more to your liking.

Whether you’re considering a move in 2017 or just a new place to shoot, we have you covered. For the 17^th year running, after weeks of research, interviews with film commissions and surveys of moviemakers, we’ve assessed and ranked the best North American cities to practice your craft. Notice we said “North American,” not just “American.” In our post-election haze we’ve also included three Canadian cities on this year’s list. (Because, let’s face it, options are not bad things to have.)

Day-to-day living in disparate cities is notoriously difficult to compare, of course, even through the lens of moviemaking. That said, our criteria is as follows: film production in 2016 (shooting days, number of productions, dollars generated), film community and culture (film schools, festivals, independent theaters, film organizations), access to equipment and facilities, tax incentives, cost of living and a general category that encapsulates lifestyle, weather, transportation and other socio-cultural markers. (“Breweries per capita” is one of them. Seriously.)

This year, we skewed big, compiling a list of 15 big cities (population 400,000 and up—that’s city population, not metro) along with a shorter list of five small cities and towns, for those who like a more intimate setting for creativity. Each list also ends with three cities that were “On the Cusp.” (Who can resist an honorable mention?) As usual, you’ll see some familiar names and some up-and-comers—and yes, one of the lists has a tie for the top spot. We’re confident that the places on these lists offer the finest array of filmic institutions, backdrops and good ol’ community-driven energy available. Sink your roots into any of them, and you really can’t go wrong. What you can do, we hope, is find your people, and from there help to write the next chapter of North American cinema.

Small Cities and Towns: 3. Providence, Rhode Island

Providence has always acquitted itself admirably in the film education area. Its environs in the country’s smallest state are getting even better: A new multi-million-dollar media hub at The Rhode Island Harrington School of Media opened in 2016 at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, adding to Providence’s programs at the Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University and other schools.

Little Rhode Island offers a significant tax incentive, too - 25 percent credit with a $100,000 minimum spend. Of the titles that capitalized on that, a couple features made it to Sundance: Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky’s The Polka King, starring Jack Black and Jenny Slate, and Charlie McDowell’s The Discovery, starring Rooney Mara, Jason Segel and Robert Redford, which shot in Newport and Middletown as well as Providence.

(PHOTO)  Martin Scorsese addresses guests digitally at the Oscar Night America 2016 event in Providence. Courtesy of the Rhode Island Film & TV Office

Steven Feinberg, executive director of the Rhode Island Film & TV Office, has amassed a collection of letters over his 13 years in that position, from filmmakers praising the state’s lovely coastlines, its historic preservation, even its lemonade (Del’s). A highlight of his 2016, though, was a note he got from Redford: “While leaving, he sent me a letter and asked me to share it with the Rhode Island community via a local newspaper.” In it, the actor writes that “For me, the welcoming and warm spirit of the community will not soon be forgotten.”

Feinberg was moved: “We are so proud of this letter because he recognized the beauty of our state and our hospitality.” It’s an endorsement that’s hard to argue with.

The Rhode Island Film & TV Office is a government agency under the umbrella of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA)

克蘭斯頓市長馮偉傑最後一次就任儀式 (圖片)

克蘭斯頓市長馮偉傑(後左一)與家人。(周菊子攝)

克蘭斯頓市長馮偉傑(左)與好友周榮(右)。(周菊子攝)

Mayor Allan W. Fung’s 2017 Mayoral Inauguration Address

         Mayor Allan W. Fung’s 2017 Mayoral Inauguration Address

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is an incredible honor for me to be standing here tonight for my final inauguration as mayor of the great city of Cranston.  Being mayor for the past eight years has been a remarkable journey and a true blessing.  It’s a journey that fills me with pride when I look back on what we’ve accomplished, and fills me with hope and optimism when I look forward to the city’s future.

To say I had my work cut out for me eight years ago would be an understatement. The city’s finances were, frankly, in dire straits.  Spending was out of control and our revenues were dramatically cut from the state.  And finances weren’t just bad on a year-to-year basis—we had the weight of a looming pension crisis and other serious structural issues continuing to crush us.  Many people expected Cranston to sink into bankruptcy.

Let’s not forget that the city was also hit during my first term with the historic floods.  This city wasn’t just rhetorically under water financially, we were now quite literally UNDER WATER.  Sure, during that time I was on every national news program…But I had giant Dumpster floating behind me on Elmwood Avenue and the bridge between Cranston and Warwick literally disappeared from sight under the cresting waters.  Some days I woke up and said “What did I get myself into?”

A lot has happened over the past eight years.  I asked a lot from our city employees and my department heads.  I asked for residents to stick with me as we got through those tough times.  I successfully negotiated concessions with our labor unions and was able to chip away at our structural deficits and political stalemates hardened by years of acrimony.

Thankfully, new businesses now line our streets, new playgrounds and renovated schools reach every corner of the city, and our finances have made a 180 degree turn around.  We are now one of the premiere cities in the entire nation!   And the national media have taken notice: 24/7 Wall Street has named us one of the top 50 cities in America for three straight years.  You might ask what they see…well let me tell you.

Our business development is booming!  Our official scissors are getting dull from so many ribbon cuts!  Companies large and small are looking at Cranston as THE place to do business.  I get plenty of phone calls from early in the morning to late at night from prospective CEOs & developers calling me about what it would take to relocate their businesses or start their projects here. 

And we don’t give the house away.  We don’t make this an attractive place by PAYING every business to come here.  We do this by making the whole business environment better.  We have special liaisons at City Hall who walk the business owners through the permitting process, ensure that our inspections teams respond quickly so that there are not construction delays, and when problems arise, our team gets involved personally.  You don’t have to “know a guy” here.  Business owners flock to us because of our different mindset and shift away from the past.

I am lucky to come to work every day with some of the smartest and hardest-working public servants in Rhode Island.  I could go on for hours about every one of them.  All you need to know is that we have some of the most dedicated staff you’ll ever meet who want to do what is right for all residents.  We might be on a strong financial footing, but that doesn’t mean the job of finding savings and efficiencies ever stops.  When the animal shelter needed better air conditioning for animal safety, the team went out and found an affordable way to get the job done in two days.  And when the city’s bond ratings began to tick up, our finance team quickly locked in lower rates to cut our long term debts.

Our accomplishment list really could fill up an entire novel, but there are certain things I am very proud of:

• We’ve restored the rainy day Fund to more than $20 million - the highest of any city or town in Rhode Island.
• We’ve helped to create over 2,200 new jobs in our city. 
• We’ve overseen more than $66 million dollars in new business development.
• Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P have all upgraded our credit ratings to the highest in two decades.
• Watching our spending like a hawk, and my office knows how fiscally conservative I can be, has led to four straight years of cumulative surpluses.   This includes helping the school systems get out of debt, and I’d like to recognize the work that the Superintendent and her team as well as the School Committee have done to not only right their ship financially, but also improve the quality of education for our students.
• Cranston now has the top library system in the state and has won a national award for community outreach.
• Although there are limited opportunities for local government to take the lead in conserving our environment, I’m extremely proud of several of green initiatives:  First, we’re switching all city streetlights to energy-efficient LEDs that will achieve significant savings on our electricity bill and light our streets better.  Second, open space preservation, like Stillhouse Cove in Edgewood as well as Moreau Farm in western Cranston, and floodplain restoration in various parts of the city have become a priority for us.  Lastly, we are poised to become a leader in solar energy for our state.  We have three large scale solar projects in the works and one of them will be the largest solar power generating facility in RI.  With these three new solar farms, we will be able to create more renewable energy than the wind turbines of Deepwater Wind. 
• We tackled pension reform by bringing everyone to the table and working together with our public sector unions and retirees.  This collaboration is bringing $6 million in annual savings and dramatically reduced our total unfunded liability by over $30 million.
• We were the first city to successfully move union employees out of the costly state pension system and into a 401(k) type defined contribution plan.
• And we’ve done all of this without having to raise taxes four out of the last five years!

While I have many accomplishments to be proud of, our path to success hasn’t been without a few detours.  Mistakes have been made, but when they are - we learn from them and the City gets back on track.  And when the seas have been a little rocky, I have always been so grateful for your continued support and your faith in me as we right the ship. 

As I look ahead to my new term, I envision the financial and business success that has defined the city center to really take off in far reaching corners of our city.  I know everyone is looking forward to Dave’s Marketplace being an anchor to the Rolfe Square area.  We have potential in every ward, and with our safer streets, great schools, beautiful parks and playgrounds, and strong team in place at City Hall, we want to see this expand.  We will continue to work day and night on attracting businesses of all sizes to Cranston, to create even more jobs, and grow our commercial tax base even further to take the pressure off our residents.

Because of our recent bond passage, and great rates due to our high credit rating, we are going to be repaving these roads that have been an eyesore for years, doubling our prior $10 million efforts. 

More athletic fields are being renovated, more playgrounds rebuilt, and more investments will be made to ensure that Cranston is at the top of everyone’s list to come to and live in. 

It’s impossible to describe just how proud I am to be Mayor and to see our efforts truly come to fruition.  If someone told me when I was standing on a milk crate washing dishes in mom and dad’s restaurant that today I’d be leading one of the top cities in this country, I’d probably have laughed at you.  But the values that my mother and now 88-year-old father instilled in me back then—working twice as hard as anyone else, being honest and focusing on what’s right, and when you make a mistake—admit to it and fix it—are all practices I’ve brought to the table as mayor.  And by those simple values, we’ve done great things, and will continue to do so.

Cranston in some ways is like my child.  Eight years ago, I was new and green and like a new parent, I had so much to learn.  But I knew that I loved this city, which had been so good to me and my family, which offered us a home and a place to run a small business.  I look forward to working collaboratively with the City Council, School Committee and all of you to continue building upon the foundation we’ve laid.  I am so proud to be at the helm on this journey leading one of the top 50 cities in America. 

Thank you!