波士頓市餐館同桌用餐人數限制 維持6人

 

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)利用機會提醒市民填報人口普查表。(周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 整理報導) 麻州放寬規定每桌可坐10人，波士頓市目前維持6人。波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)在9月23日的新冠病毒疫情會報中表示，波士頓市就快踏入”紅色”警戒區，餐館內同桌用餐人數，暫不放寬。

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)在9月23日一早到羅爾市舉行的疫情匯報中表示，麻州有多個市鎮幾乎從一開始迄今，都沒有新冠感染個案，全州疫情也都在不斷改善中，為對餐館業者聊有助益，將把同桌共餐人數限於6人以下的規定，放寬為10人。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊同日下午在市政府大樓前匯報疫情時指出，麻州政府把新冠病毒疫情，分為紅黃綠白四個顏色，每週三公佈全州各市鎮的顏色圖，其中在2週之內，每10萬人每天有8宗以上新確診個案的紅色分類最危險，波士頓市幾乎就要跨入紅色區，必須小心點。

上週有南特基(Nantucket)，平原村(Plainville)，索格斯(Saugus)， 廷斯博洛夫(Tyngsborough)， 屋斯特(Worcester)，倫特罕(Wrentham)，雀喜(Chelsea)，德罕(Dedham)，艾佛瑞(Everett)，傅萊明罕(Framingham)，羅倫斯(Lawrence)，林市(Lynn)，林菲爾德(Lynnfield)，孟森(Monson)，新貝福(New Bedford)，瑞維爾(Revere)，溫卓普(Winthrop)都進入高危區。

波士頓市在9月23日的疫情數據為新增確診個案63宗，累計16,766，過去3日新增2人死亡，累計761人。麻州則為新增新冠確診個案542宗，累計126,408。新增17人死亡累計9,135人。全美因染患新冠病毒死亡的人數已超過20萬人。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Third Annual Statewide STEM Week

 Baker-Polito Administration Announces Third Annual Statewide STEM Week

 

BOSTON – Today, The Baker-Polito Administration announced that the third annual STEM Week will take place this year from October 19-23 through a mix of virtual and in-person events, lessons, speaker panels, and design challenges, all adapted for the new school and work environments as the Commonwealth continues to combat the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Administration encourages teachers and employers to develop new and creative ways to host STEM Week events to highlight opportunities that exist in science, technology, engineering and math. 

 

“This year made it abundantly clear how important STEM professions are to all our lives, and we hope that more young people will explore the opportunities that exist in STEM fields and pursue those careers that benefit us all,” said Governor Charlie Baker.

 

“Across our Commonwealth, nurses and doctors are saving lives, scientists are working furiously to develop a vaccine, and advanced manufacturers quickly shifted gears to produce personal protective equipment,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Co-Chair of the STEM Advisory Council. “Battling COVID-19 highlighted how crucial the need is for young people to study science, technology, engineering and math, and our administration remains committed to paving pathways to STEM careers and education for students in and out of the classroom.”

 

STEM Week is a collaborative effort between the Executive Office of Education; the STEM Advisory Council, which works to generate interest and support from the business community for STEM Week activities and is co-chaired by Lt. Governor Polito, Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Executive Chairman Jeffrey Leiden; and the Commonwealth’s nine Regional STEM Networks, which plan and coordinate activities with local school communities, community leaders and business partners.

 

“Since the Baker-Polito Administration launched STEM Week two years ago, tens of thousands of students of all ages in every region of the Commonwealth have participated in engaging, challenging, and fun learning experiences to help get them hooked on STEM,” said Secretary of Education James Peyser. “Notwithstanding this year’s unique circumstances, the STEM Council and STEM educators are committed to sustaining the momentum with exciting activities, both online and in-person.” 

 

“Getting kids hooked on science is all about creating fun, hands-on experiences where they can explore these topics in the real world alongside scientists and mentors,” said Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Chairman of Vertex. “Those experiences might look different during a pandemic, but as leaders and educators, we have an opportunity to innovate in how we deliver them to students. At Vertex, we created an all-virtual summer internship experience for our Boston Public School partners, and we’ll continue to work with the community to ensure students – particularly women and those who are underrepresented in STEM – have the opportunities they need to succeed.”

 

“Rebuilding our economy, health care system and society in the wake of this pandemic will require a new generation of workers with experience in STEM fields,” said Congressman Joe Kennedy III. “Students in virtual or physical STEM classrooms today will lead our recovery in the months and years ahead, and we need to support them in any way possible.”

 

Strengthening STEM education in the Commonwealth’s K-12 schools is a priority of the Baker-Polito Administration. The STEM Advisory Council is appointed by the Governor and includes education and business leaders in STEM industries that work to promote STEM education, partnerships among industries and schools, and internships for students.

 

In Massachusetts, more than 40 percent of all employment revolves around STEM innovation industries such as clean energy, information technology, defense and advanced manufacturing.

 

This year, the STEM Advisory Council is coordinating with seven organizations across the state to offer options for STEM-focused Design Challenges. Design Challenges include:

 

Kids In Tech: Cybersecurity - Keeping Our Networks Secure Challenge: A STEM Week Challenge for students in grades K-5, 6-8, and high school, Kids in Tech asks students to think their way through standards-based activities to consider how the internet works and how they can use the internet safely. By participating in puzzle-solving games, students will explore how individuals can use the internet to obtain information and how they can make sure their personal information is safe.                

           

Museum of Science - Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals: To allow educators and students to see themselves in STEM, the Museum of Science, and EiE, an award-winning leader in Pre-K-8 curriculum, have developed three engineering design challenges to share with educators and students across Massachusetts. These activities engage learners in standards-based design challenges to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals).

 

Gale Force Education - Power Grid Explorations: This challenge will bring the excitement of power engineering to  high school students, wherever they are. Life may not seem normal right now, but electricity is flowing and the lights are on—thanks to the power grid. Students will explore the grid and how it works through a hands-on design challenge designing generators, model houses and a mini power grid.                      

                                                      

FitMoney - STEM Business Plan Challenge: STEM and financial literacy are critical components of a quality education as today’s students prepare to become the innovators, entrepreneurs and job-creators of tomorrow. The FitMoney team has created a design challenge that gives middle school students the opportunity to think critically and create solutions to address issues students face today. Through a socially conscious lens, students will design a product, and produce, market and sell their product, learning the critical elements to starting a business venture.             

 

MIND Research Institute in partnership with STMath - Math Maker Project - Play, Create, Share: This STEM Week Challenge was developed by the New England Aquarium, One8 Foundation and Mass STEM Hub, and MIND Research Institute, creators of ST Math! Students in grades K-5 will promote math learning and connect with families virtually. The entire project is built around games and stories with historical significance and is designed to develop students’ creative problem-solving capacity as they create their own math game – one that drives math knowledge and meaningful connections.

 

WPI STEM Education Center - I Am STEM, STEM I Am!: This challenge (for PK-5 students) focuses on solving problems in books and is designed to empower students to become proud problem solvers. All lessons are aligned with grade-level ELA and math/STE standards, can be done in the classroom or remotely, and use every-day & recyclable materials. Free online professional development sessions are available between 9/8 – 10/17, guiding teachers on the problem-solving process, online tools, and trying out a lesson with colleagues. The I am STEM lesson library will be available to all educators before, during, and after STEM Week.

                       

Wade Institute for Science Ed - National Marine Life Center - Survivor Island Challenge: The Survivor Island Challenge will provide students with a unique experience that integrates science concepts and the engineering design process in an exciting way. The Challenge? “You have been stranded on a deserted island and the only source of freshwater is quite a distance from your encampment.  You must find a way to move water to the encampment and then filter it to make it safe to drink.” Teachers will receive a curriculum guide and support from the three sponsoring organizations. Students will have an opportunity to participate in a virtual “challenge showcase” on the last day of STEM week. Teachers participating in the pre-challenge teacher workshop will receive a kit of materials to help their students “See themselves in STEM.”           

 

During STEM Week, members of the Baker-Polito Administration and the STEM Advisory Council will virtually visit classrooms and other school and business-related STEM activities that showcase successful programs and raise awareness about developments in STEM education and the STEM workforce. Last October, the Administration held the second annual STEM Week in collaboration with schools, non-profit organizations, colleges, museums, and business partners, where more than 1,000 events took place that engaged over 10,000 students from pre-kindergarten through college.

 

Learn more about regional events managed by the Regional STEM Networks across the Commonwealth in collaboration with local museums, non-profit organizations, schools, and local business partners at www.massstemweek.org. 

包氏藝文中心體驗華埠藝術節

 

紅襪隊贊助 每週5%波士頓老師做新冠病毒檢測

          (Boston Orange整理報導)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)表示，在紅襪隊的贊助支持下，本週開始，直到2020年底，將每週為5%的波士頓教師工會老師們做新冠病毒(COVID-19)檢測。 

         這一病毒檢測將從從芬衛球場(Fenway Park)開始，陸續進不同社區為老師們檢測病毒。市內新冠病毒感染率高的社區，則以為老師們做隨機檢測方式，盡量保障老師，學生的健康安全。 

        馬丁華殊感謝紅襪隊及其董事長Sam Kennedy的贊助支持，以及波士頓公共衛生局將組織，執行這一每週檢測計畫。他指出，紅襪隊和藍捷(JetBlue)航空公司還和”波士頓驕傲(Boston Pride)合作，捐贈6萬多個可重複使用的口罩給波士頓公校學生及老師。

         凡是回學校上課的學生，在今秋返校上課時，都會拿到一個口罩。(更新版)

 

RED SOX PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON AND BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION ON COVID-19 TESTING PROGRAM FOR BOSTON TEACHERS UNION BOSTON - Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - To help with the return to in-person learning this fall, the Red Sox, with support from Major League Baseball (MLB), have partnered with the City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission to facilitate COVID-19 testing for Boston Teachers Union (BTU) members. Starting this week, five percent of Teachers Union members will be invited to be randomly tested weekly for COVID-19 through the end of 2020. The testing program will begin at a location near Fenway Park and will move to a different location at a later date. A randomized sample of teachers will be tested from across the city with an oversampling of teachers working in neighborhoods with COVID-19 rates higher than 8 percent, which is double the citywide threshold of concern. "Our first priority is the health and safety of our students, teachers, and everyone in our Boston Public Schools community," said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "This testing program is one way we can support our teachers as they get ready to head back to their classrooms for in-person learning. We thank the Red Sox and Major League Baseball for partnering with us on this program, and the Boston Public Health Commission for organizing and implementing this weekly testing plan."  "As part of Major League Baseball's COVID-19 testing program, the league wanted to ensure there was opportunity to extend their testing benefits beyond the clubs and players, and into the communities where teams operate," said Red Sox President Sam Kennedy. "We are grateful to MLB for giving us this opportunity to partner with the City of Boston and help with their back-to-school rollout."  "As we plan to welcome students back into our school buildings, BPS understands that our schools are the hubs of our community and we are taking every precaution to keep Bostonians safe and healthy," said BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. "I am so thankful to Major League Baseball and the Boston Red Sox organization for this profound commitment to the health of our educators, our students and of the entire community. In the City of Boston we truly are all in this together."   "We are grateful to the Red Sox and their commitment to helping us ensure safety and health in our schools during this pandemic," said Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang. "We hope that the early success of this initiative will enable us to explore further expansion of such efforts as we continue to keep health and safety a priority for our students and educators in order to head back into buildings for critical in-person services and learning." Teachers Union members will be administered an FDA-authorized COVID-19 test through the Spectrum Solutions SDNA-100 saliva collection kit. The tests are being provided to the City free of cost through MLB's COVID-19 community testing program. Testing will be conducted by the Sports Medicine Research & Testing Laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, which was established to ensure that the testing of players and staff throughout the 2020 MLB season does not compete with public health testing needs. The City of Boston has also continued its work to increase access to testing for residents throughout Boston's neighborhoods. Yesterday, in partnership with East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Mayor Walsh announced that the City of Boston's COVID-19 mobile testing site will now be located in Grove Hall. This mobile site testing initiative was announced by Mayor Walsh back in May as a way to help fill any gaps in testing availability, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. The site has previously been located in Roxbury, Allston, South Boston, Mattapan and East Boston.  "We know that access to data is one of the most useful ways to help keep our city residents safe during this pandemic," said City of Boston Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez. "This partnership between MLB, the Red Sox, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the City allows us to create another access point of testing for our teachers as we all work to get our youngest Bostonians back into the classroom in a safe manner this fall." In addition to the City's mobile testing sites, COVID-19 testing is available at over 20 locations across the city. Mobile testing sites also continue to be available at select locations, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. Individuals can call the Mayor's Health Line with any questions using 617-534-5050. For a complete list of all testing sites, visit here.  Mayor Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee have dedicated over $1,794,825 to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education to community health centers across City of Boston neighborhoods, including Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, Codman Square Community Health Center, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health, Mattapan Community Health Center, Uphams Corner Community Health Center, Whittier Street Community Health Center, Charles River Community Health, Fenway Health, Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center, Harbor Health, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, South Boston Community Health Center, NEW Health Charlestown, South End Community Health Center, and Brookside Community Health Center. The Fund has also supported telehealth services and equipment at those community health centers as well to connect testing to safe treatment options at home. Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students; free toiletries for Boston students; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources. More information on Boston's reopening can be found at boston.gov/reopening. For additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages.

麻州政府撥款65萬元紓緩有色社區疫情

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Grant Program to Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Communities of Color

BOSTON – September 23, 2020 – The Baker-Polito Administration announced today a new grant program to help prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in communities of color. Open to applicants until October 14, the $650,000 grant program is available to faith-based organizations and community groups serving Black, Latinx and other people of color in cities and towns hardest hit by COVID-19. 

COVID-19 data indicate that infection and death rates are disproportionately high among Black and Latinx populations, and other communities of color. Due to under-investment and historical lack of opportunity, communities of color suffer the long-term health consequences of systemic racism and also experience disproportionate impacts related to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Community Grant Program is designed to support community-based and faith-based organizations in raising awareness around best practices families and individuals can take to be safe and stop the spread. This includes messaging about ensuring physical distancing, mask wearing and other risk-reduction practices.

The program is administered by Health Resources in Action (HRiA), in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Grants are expected to be in the range of $10,000 to $50,000 per organization for a funding period of November 2020 through February 2021.

Eligible groups include Massachusetts-based community and faith-based organizations serving people of color. Groups need to have a particular emphasis on support for populations who have mental health and substance use disorders, are experiencing homelessness and housing instability, have disabilities and/or have limited English proficiency for eligibility. A full list of emphasis areas and eligible cities and towns can be found at www.HRiA.org/MACOVIDCommunityGrants.

HRiA is a non-profit public health organization with a mission to help people live healthier lives and create healthy communities through prevention, health promotion, policy and research.

Funding recipients will coordinate with the COVID-19 Enforcement and Intervention Team (CEIT), a component of the Commonwealth’s Command Center, to develop training materials, share best practices and create messaging. CEIT launched on September 3, 2020, and works collaboratively with communities across the Commonwealth with persistently high COVID-19 incidence rates as part of a coordinated effort to stop the spread.

查理貝克批評華府是問題

    

            (Boston Orange 周菊子報導)”華府才是問題(Washington is a problem, period)”。麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(23)日毫不客氣的批評白宮政客，直指處理疫情才是當下最重要任務，民主、共和兩黨的國會議員，卻把精力花在爭辯是否該在選前遞補大法官。

            查理貝克今早在羅爾市舉行記者會，報告疫情概況。回答現場有關大法官Ruth Bader Jinsburg遞補人選問題時，他沉吟了一會兒，提高聲調，一點不留情面的說，”華府才是問題”。他說，染患新冠病毒而死亡的美國人數，才剛破20萬大關，可見全美疫情才是大家應該關注的重點。

            查理貝克很不滿意，以政治遊戲來形容這局面。他說，四年前，民主黨認為應該趕快找好大法官的遞補人選，共和黨覺得不必要。四年後，共和黨要速戰速決的完成大法官遞補手續，民主黨卻倒過來期期以為不可。他覺得就像之前國會在討論教育預算一樣，共和黨和民主黨其實都重視教育，卻在撥給預算額度上，為了數目並不大的差額，爭執，拖延決定。

            在回應他早前表態支持共和黨籍的緬因州聯邦參議員Susan Collins時，本身是共和黨籍的查理貝克表示，雖然Susan Collins不是麻州聯邦參議員，但有問題時，打電話就一定找得到她，而且無論是新冠疫情，或是龍蝦產銷，Susan Collins都很支持麻州，新英格蘭地區。

            麻州總檢察官Maura Healy立即在推特上發文，稱Susan支持Brett Kavanaugh出任最高法院大法官，以及川普總統對富人有利的新稅法，投票給她，就如同投票給參議院議長Mitch McConnell和川普總統的議程，對緬因州和麻州都不好。(更新版，視頻來自州政府)

麻州餐廳9月28起每桌10人 低疫區學生應回校上課

 

麻州州長，副州長進羅爾市宣佈放寬餐館應業限制。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 9 月28日起，麻州內餐廳同桌用餐人數，從6人放寬至10人。麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)並宣佈將撥款65萬元，鼓勵社區機構提出幫助黑棕社區小企業的服務計畫。

             查理貝克今(23)日一早特地趕到羅爾市(Lowell)的Mill City BBQ餐廳，宣佈放寬餐館營業的安全限制，同時指出，雖然目前仍不開放酒吧及夜總會，但將容許餐廳內的酒吧吧檯挪供顧客用餐。

             查理貝克強調，在疫情未消，病毒仍在，疫苗也還未出來的情況下，人們仍然應該儘量小心，他希望放寬限制，對餐館及”主街”的經濟有益，但提醒人們不可降低警戒心。

             查理貝克指出，州政府將再撥發65萬元的麻州新型冠狀病毒社區補助款(MA COVID-19 Community Grants)，鼓勵社區機構為黑棕社區小企業提供必要的防疫安全措施，如何遵循重新開業規定等訓練。有意申請者，可上網https://hria.org/macovidcommunitygrants/。

             麻州發展(MassDevelopment) 董事長暨執行長Lauren Liss也在記者會上說明，該機構已經透過”場地準備好計畫(Site Readiness Program)”，撥發過五輪共300萬元經費，協助企業做好恢復營業的相關防疫安全準備。今天再宣佈撥款$86,415，透過”麻州地方新型冠狀病毒回應輪:復興的地方(Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places)這項目，幫助10家小企業恢復營業，重振經濟活力。

             在回應提問時，查理貝克指出，麻州各市鎮，有的市鎮新冠確診率上上下下，有些市鎮卻從疫情開始以來，從來都是零感染，或者是確診人數在5人以下，州政府教育廳因此認為，在確診率高，危險性較大市鎮，學生應該遙距上學，但那些零感染市鎮的學生，就應該在學校，老師，家長及學生都做好準備的情況下回校上課。

             麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)，羅爾市經Eileen Donoghue等人也都出席致詞。

麻州發展今日再撥款8萬餘元促進地方經濟繁

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Grant Program to Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 in Communities of Color

MassDevelopment Awards $86,415 in Commonwealth Places Grants to Assist Local Economic Recovery Efforts

MassDevelopment President & CEO Lauren Liss.

MassDevelopment has awarded $86,415 for 10 projects through the Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places, a program made available specifically to assist local economic recovery efforts as community partners prepare public spaces and commercial districts to serve residents and visitors. Projects receiving awards include the creation of outdoor dining spaces, sidewalk retail venues, and partitions to support social distancing. Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, and MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss joined Lowell City Manager Eileen Donoghue, Do-it-Yourself Lowell Co-Founder Christopher Aurora Erickson, and African Community Center of Lowell Founder & Executive Director Gordon Halm to announce the grants today at Mill City BBQ & Brew in Lowell.

“We’re proud to see nonprofits like Do-it-Yourself Lowell and other organizations working together to address the impacts of COVID-19,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Commonwealth Places program is a tool to help drive foot traffic to downtowns and commercial districts by providing opportunities for safe dining and recreation and we look forward to continuing to work with municipalities to support local communities across the state.”

“Congratulations to all of today’s awardees, including Do-it-Yourself Lowell, which aims to amplify Lowell’s diverse history and attract residents and visitors to the city’s downtown shops and restaurants to shop and buy local,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to seeing the economic impacts these placemaking projects will have here in Lowell and around the Commonwealth.”

“As Massachusetts continues to navigate the effects of COVID-19, the Baker-Polito Administration is committed to supporting local economic recovery efforts,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy. “Commonwealth Places provides much-needed resources to help nonprofits and other partners build momentum in their own communities.”

“Now in its fifth round, our Commonwealth Places program has been a resource to help communities implement placemaking projects that improve public spaces, create foot traffic, and stimulate economic activity,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. “In the wake of COVID-19, we were pleased to direct this funding towards projects that enable residents and visitors to safely dine, shop, and spend time outdoors in downtowns and commercial districts.”

Created in 2016, Commonwealth Places aims to engage and mobilize community members to make individual contributions for placemaking projects, with the incentive of a funding match from MassDevelopment if the crowdfunding goal is reached. In June 2020, MassDevelopment announced the availability of $225,000 in funding for the Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places. For this round, nonprofits and other community groups could apply to MassDevelopment for grants of up to $25,000. Up to $10,000 per project could be awarded as an unmatched grant; awards greater than $10,000 must be matched with crowdfunding donations. All grantees and projects will be required to follow the mandatory safety standards and protocols of the Commonwealth’s Reopening Massachusetts plan.

MassDevelopment has previously announced $128,550 for 10 projects in Amesbury, Attleboro, Beverly, Boston, Greenfield, Haverhill, Hyannis, Lenox, Lynn, and Montague.

Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places Projects

Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce ($10,000 grant)
Amherst Resilience Initiative – A Play in Three Acts
The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will (1) reopen an outdoor version of the Downtown Amherst Visitor Information Center and (2) install COVID-19 public health and wayfinding signage and landscaping in downtown Amherst. The organization will use funds to cover marketing and administrative costs and to buy display stands, iPads, and a handwashing station for the Visitor Information Center; queuing control signage, including floor stickers, posters, and canvas signs; and self-watering pots, plantings, and garden hardware.

Beyond Walls, Inc. ($4,250 grant)
WaSH and FoLD: Supporting a Safe and Appealing Return to Shared Public Spaces
The organization will create a stainless steel hand-washing station and curbside barriers to support an outdoor dining space in Lynn. The organization will also use funds to cover labor costs associated with the project.

Chicopee Chamber of Commerce ($10,000 grant)
Chicopee Center Public Spaces
The organization will transform a remediated lot in the city’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) district at 181 Center Street into a mixed-use public space for outdoor programming including farmers markets, food trucks, performances, community gatherings, and more. The organization will use funds to buy and install a gravel foundation, wood beams, outdoor lighting and seating, and shade or other weather coverings.

Creative Hub Worcester Inc. ($5,515 grant)
Creative Hub Worcester Mobile Art Van
The organization will create a “Creative Hub Worcester Mobile Art Van” and park it at various locations in Worcester’s Main South neighborhood to facilitate free, on-site art projects for community members. Creative Hub Worcester, Inc. will use funds to repair and outfit the van and cover the program’s startup operational costs.

Do-it-Yourself (DIY) Lowell ($10,000 grant)
Visualizing Lowell’s Black History
Do-it-Yourself Lowell will create two self-guided walking trails in downtown Lowell highlighting Black history and art. The walking trails, which will stretch from 167 Dutton Street to 35 Warren Street, will guide participants alongside retail shops and outdoor “streeteries,” encouraging visitors to spend time, shop, and dine in the area. The organization will use funds to install signage and art along the walking trails, including information about Lowell’s Black history, a temporary sculpture created by a Black artist, spaces for theatre performances, spoken word, and projected art, a kiosk, vinyl art banners, business directories, and COVID-19 public safety reminders.

Downtown Framingham, Inc. ($10,000 grant)
Route 126/135 Activation Project
Downtown Framingham, Inc. plans to install (1) outdoor seating, umbrellas, and barrier art for cafes at 12 Irving Street, (2) murals at 398 Waverly Street and 10 Pearl Street, and (3) landscaping on Waverly Street. The organization will use funds to buy tables, chairs, umbrellas, barriers, artwork, and a storage shed, and cover costs for landscaping installation, marketing, permitting and insurance, and staff time.

Friends of the North Brookfield Town House ($9,450 grant)
North Brookfield Outdoor Film Screenings
The organization will host a series of free outdoor drive-in movie screenings in downtown North Brookfield, using funds to cover movie screening equipment rentals, film licensing, site preparation, food truck permitting, and marketing costs.

Nuestra Comunidad Dev. Corp. ($10,000 grant)
Nubian Square Street Furniture
Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation will install street furniture such as tables, benches, and chairs to facilitate outdoor programming in Roxbury’s Nubian Square. The organization will use funds to pay local artist and fabricator Radiant Jasmin to build the street furniture, which will encompass African-American and Afro-Caribbean cultural themes and will be used for outdoor dining, drive-in movies, beer gardens, job fairs, and other outdoor events.

ReImagine North of Main ($10,000 grant)
Milling About Fitchburg
This project aims to facilitate outdoor retail and entertainment at Fitchburg’s Riverfront Park area, including along Mill Street and Main Street. The organization will use funds to buy a movie screen and projector, a portable PA system, an FM transmitter, a generator, handwashing stations, and coolers and heating stations, all of which will be used to support vendors, artists, and musicians at outdoor events.

Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives ($7,200 grant)
A Path to Reopening: Repurposing Public Space in Stockbridge, MA
The organization will host three monthly “pop-up” events featuring artist shows and presentations on the library’s front lawn, using funds to buy outdoor chairs, tables, art display panels, dividers, hand sanitizing stations, and personal protective equipment, and cover marketing and administrative costs.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2020, MassDevelopment financed or managed 341 projects generating investment of more than $2.69 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 10,871 jobs and build or preserve 1,787 housing units.

CITY APPOINTS NEW ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DIRECTOR AND VETERINARIAN

 

CITY APPOINTS NEW ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL DIRECTOR AND VETERINARIAN

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 22, 2020 - Boston Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods recently announced that Alexis Trzcinski of Dorchester has been promoted to Director of the Animal Care and Control division of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. Trzcinski has worked in the animal welfare field for over 24 years and began her career at the Animal Rescue League of Boston where she worked in direct animal care and pet adoptions. Prior to being appointed Director, Alexis began working for Boston Animal Care and Control in 2004 and served as the Division's Assistant Director since 2015.  In that role, she organized the expansion of the city's low-cost animal wellness program, worked collaboratively with other humane law enforcement organizations, performed administrative hearings, and ensured that the Division continued to provide high level care for animals in the City's animal care facility in Roslindale.  "I am excited for the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of animals, and build stronger relationships within the community," Trzcinski said. "My passion is helping animals in need. Lucky for me, that is also the mission of this talented team." Trzcinski is committed to the promotion of humane education and community work through organized community events, and further expansion of the City's wellness services. A graduate of UMass Boston, she has lived in Boston most of her life and currently lives in Dorchester with her husband, twin sons, two cats, Bowser and Mack, and her dog, Otter. Commissioner Woods also welcomed Dr. Emily Walz, MPH DACVPM to the Animal Care and Control staff, the division's first full-time staff veterinarian.  An experienced veterinarian who has worked to provide community-based veterinary care to animals in Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, Dr. Walz has also pursued specialized training in public health, community needs assessment, and preventive medicine.   "Both Alexis and Emily bring proven knowledge and success to their roles. These appointments represent a huge win for the animals, the community, and the Department of Animal Care and Control," said Commissioner Woods. "In Alexis, we are elevating a valued employee to a new level of leadership, and Emily will undoubtedly bring fresh ideas to our work." Emily recently moved to Boston and brings her experience in developing community programming to support the special bond between people and their pets.  She is excited to join the team at Boston Animal Care and Control to continue providing high quality care to the animals of Boston and is looking forward to connecting to her neighbors around the city. Dr. Walz holds a BS from Swarthmore College, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ohio State University, a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota, and is a Diplomate of the American College of American Veterinary Medicine.  She currently resides in Roslindale with her wife, their energetic toddler, two kitties named Pearl and Puma, and an incredibly patient pit bull mix named Elsa.  "I'm honored and excited to be joining the dynamic team at Boston Animal Care and Control and supporting the welfare of animals across the city," said Dr. Walz. "I can't wait to see what this team will accomplish." ### Alexis Trzcinski of Dorchester has been named Director of the Boston Animal Care and Control division Dr. Emily Walz of Roslindale has joined Boston Animal Care and Control as the new staff veterinarian