RED SOX FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES AUCTION ITEMS FOR 9TH ANNUAL PICNIC IN THE PARK FUNDRAISER

RED SOX FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES AUCTION ITEMS FOR

9TH ANNUAL PICNIC IN THE PARK FUNDRAISER

August 24 Auction Includes Meeting David Ortiz, Batting Lessons with Mike Napoli,

Base Running with Brock Holt, and Fielding With Jackie Bradley, Jr.

BOSTON, MA – The Red Sox Foundation announced auction items for the 2014 Picnic in the Park fundraiser, presented by Ace Ticket, taking place on Sunday, August 24, at Fenway Park. The auction items include the opportunity to meet David Ortiz, fielding lessons with Jackie Bradley, Jr., batting lessons with Mike Napoli, and base running with Brock Holt. 

Fans attending the event will enjoy a BBQ picnic on the field at Fenway Park with picnic bags courtesy of Home Goods, a chance to get autographs from current Red Sox players, and the opportunity to bid on unique items and experiences during the live auction. For those unable to attend the fundraiser in person, a bid by proxy is possible.

Actor, producer, and writer Mike O’Malley will host the event, and singer/songwriter Andy Grammer will be on hand to perform.

Auction items for this year’s Picnic in the Park include:

§  A voicemail message for your phone recorded by Dustin Pedroia

§  Fielding lesson with Jackie Bradley, Jr.

§  The opportunity to shadow NESN’s Red Sox reporter Gary Striewski during a Red Sox home game

§  Batting lessons with Red Sox first basemen Mike Napoli

§  A meet-and-greet with David Ortiz that includes Green Monster seats

§  Walk-on role in the hit TV show GLEE

§  Batting practice and base running lessons with Brock Holt

§  A trip to Las Vegas including roundtrip airfare on JetBlue Airways, three nights in a luxury suite at the Venetian or Palazzo Hotel, and tickets to the Rock of Ages show

Picnic in the Park will be held one hour after the conclusion of the 1:35 p.m. Red Sox-Mariners game on Sunday, August 24. Tickets are available at redsox.com/picnic. Information on auction items and details on how to make a bid by proxy are available at redsox.com/picnicauctions.

The annual charitable fundraiser is hosted by the Red Sox players and their wives and benefits two of the Red Sox Foundation’s charitable programs – the Red Sox Scholars program and the Red Sox RBI and youth baseball program. Aramark, the Red Sox concessionaire, donates all the food for Picnic in the Park, and HP Hood, the official ice cream provider of the Boston Red Sox, donates the ice cream.

OWNER OF MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION COMPANY PLEADS GUILTY TO BILLING TAXPAYERS FOR RIDES UNDER DEAD PEOPLE’S NAMES

OWNER OF MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION COMPANY PLEADS GUILTY TO BILLING TAXPAYERS FOR RIDES UNDER DEAD PEOPLE’S NAMESCross Roads Trolley in Webster Received More than $470,000 in Payments for Medical Transportation Services Never Provided

WORCESTER – The owner of a medical transportation company in Webster has pleaded guilty to defrauding the state’s Medicaid program (MassHealth) of more than $470,000 by billing for services under the names of deceased individuals, and for other medical trips that were never provided, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.

Cynthia J. Keegan, 51, of Webster, and her company Keegan Enterprises, LLC, d/b/a Cross Roads Trolley pleaded guilty today in Worcester Superior Court before Judge Janet Kenton-Walker on charges of Larceny over $250 (7 counts each) and Medicaid False Claims (7 counts each).

“The owner of this company intentionally stole thousands of dollars from taxpayers by billing for rides that never occurred, or for people who were deceased,” AG Coakley said. “This coverage is meant to provide transportation services for residents who need outpatient medical care, and we cannot tolerate those who take advantage of MassHealth.”

A sentencing hearing for Keegan has been set for Aug. 21 in Worcester Superior Court.

The AG’s investigation into the matter, after being referred by MassHealth, revealed that Keegan falsely billed for rides provided to more than 40 individuals after their death, and under the names of a dozen residents at two different nursing homes who never actually received rides on the claimed dates of service.

Cross Roads Trolley is a privately held wheelchair van company that provides non-emergency medical transportation services when personal transportation is not suitable due to the MassHealth member’s physical condition.

According to the AG’s Office, Keegan, over a five-year period, submitted more than 8,300 fraudulent transportation claims for 12 residents at two nursing facilities in West Brookfield, and received payments totaling more than $400,000. The AG’s investigation found that the billed services were actually for individuals that rarely left the nursing facility for medical care, or didn’t reside there on the claimed dates of service.

Keegan also submitted more than 1,500 claims to MassHealth under the names of 47 deceased MassHealth members. In one case, Keegan repeatedly billed MassHealth for transportation services more than five months after a woman’s death. Of the 1,500 false claims that were submitted, only 152 claims were actually paid out for a total of $6,900.  The rest of the claims under those names were rejected by MassHealth.

In addition, Keegan billed for rides under the names of at least four other MassHealth members who were not transported to obtain covered medical services on the claimed dates of service. These additional 1,000 false claims resulted in payments totaling nearly $70,000. 

A Worcester Grand Jury returned indictments against Keegan and Cross Roads Trolley on Sept. 19, 2013. Keegan was arraigned on Oct. 8, 2013. Cross Roads Trolley was later arraigned on Nov. 21.

Assistant Attorney General Ian R. Marinoff prosecuted this case as part of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division. This case was investigated by Dean Bates and Robert Ames also from the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division.

RED SOX OFFER BIKE VALET TO FANS ATTENDING WEEKEND GAMES IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

BOSTON, MA – In partnership with the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike), the Red Sox will offer “Fenway Park Bike Valet,” a bicycle valet parking service available to all Red Sox ticket holders. The new service allows those who bike to the ballpark to drop off their bike with a valet attendant, eliminating the need to find a bike rack and lock their bikes. The valet service is located outside Gate D on the corner of Yawkey Way and Van Ness Street.  .

“We are pleased to partner with MassBike to offer this convenient and secure service to our fans,” said Red Sox Executive Vice President of Business Operations Jonathan Gilula. “We encourage fans to bike to the ballpark during their next visit to Fenway Park and enjoy the health and environmental benefits of bicycling.”

The bike valet service will open two hours prior to the game and close one hour after the game. It is free for ticketed fans. MassBike will oversee the operation of the service providing a safe, fenced off area for bikes to be stored, and claim checks for fans dropping off and retrieving their bikes.  

“MassBike is thrilled to partner with the Boston Red Sox to encourage more people to ride bikes,” says MassBike Executive Director David Watson. “Biking is the fastest way to get in and out of Fenway at game time, and once people see how fun and easy it is, they are more likely to make bicycling a regular transportation choice.”

The bike valet service was successfully piloted at home games in July and is now being rolled out for the remainingSaturday and Sunday games in August and September when the Red Sox play the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees. The Red Sox join four other Major League teams currently provide bike valet service – the San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlines, Washington Nationals, and Chicago Cubs. 

GOVERNOR PATRICK SIGNS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL EXPANDING GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH

GOVERNOR PATRICK SIGNS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL EXPANDING GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH

Re-files Legislation that Limits the Use of Non-Compete Agreements; Gives Communities Local Control of Liquor Licenses

BOSTON – Wednesday, August 13, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today signed H.4377 “An Act To Promote Economic Growth in the Commonwealth,” building on the Patrick Administration’s successful economic development strategy of investing in education, innovation and infrastructure. The economic development package provides new tools and training to ensure the Massachusetts workforce meets the needs of employers, invests in our Gateway Cities to promote development across the entire state and provides incentives to create jobs and stimulate the economy. 

Also on Wednesday, Governor Patrick re-filed legislation that limits the use of non-compete agreements and adopts the Uniform Trade Secrets Act to ensure that government acts to retain talented entrepreneurs, supports individual career growth and encourages the development of new, innovative businesses to drive future economic growth. The legislation also includes a provision to give local governments across Massachusetts control over the number of liquor licenses in their jurisdiction. Placing the authority to approve liquor licenses in the hands of municipal officials will allow local communities to make responsible decisions regarding their economic development and growth and free the Legislature from time-consuming local issues.

“In important ways, this legislation improves existing tools and provides a few new ones to continue our strong job growth, and I thank the Legislature for being so responsive,” said Governor Patrick. “At the same time, we have unfinished business, so I am filing further legislation today to give innovators and municipalities all the tools they need to grow jobs and opportunity.”

“An Act To Promote Economic Growth in the Commonwealth,” signed on Wednesday, bolsters the economic revitalization of the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities with $15 million for the Gateway Cities Transformative Development Fund and encourages the reuse of brownfields in economically distressed areas of Massachusetts with $10 million in funding. 

“This legislation makes many targeted investments in our emerging industries, like Big Data and advanced manufacturing, that are necessary to create a competitive environment here in Massachusetts and grow our status as a leader in the world economy,” said Senate President Therese Murray. “By capitalizing on our state’s existing and developing industries, as well as investing in a strong, educated workforce, we are outlining a path to success for our residents and promoting economic development throughout the entire Commonwealth.”

“This comprehensive bill will help ensure that residents, businesses and communities are able to compete and excel in a dynamic economy,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “We’ve made substantial gains in strengthening our economy and must now focus on broadening the circle of prosperity beyond Greater Boston to all regions of the Commonwealth. This bill does just that while preparing future leaders through provisions like MassCAN, a computer science education partnership and the Talent Pipeline Initiative.”

Building on a strong record of growth in the state’s world-class innovation economy, the economic development package also adopts Governor Patrick’s proposal to create a pilot Global Entrepreneur in Residence Program to retain and attract entrepreneurs who are growing companies and creating jobs in the state. The program will be piloted at the University of Massachusetts Boston and the University of Massachusetts Lowell and will allow qualified, highly skilled, international students currently in Massachusetts to stay here after graduation if they are starting or growing a business and contributing to the local economy.

“This bill provides significant new support for the Commonwealth’s economic development strategy,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki. “Ensuring the long-term economic prosperity of the Commonwealth means extending growth and opportunity to every corner of the state.”

In the area of workforce development and training, the Act includes $12 million for the middle skills job training grant fund to support advanced manufacturing, mechanical and technical skills at vocational-technical schools and community colleges. Also, the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund will receive $1.5 million to prepare Massachusetts residents for new jobs in high-demand occupations, helping close the middle-skills gap and creating a seamless pathway to employment.

The economic development legislation also includes a number of initiatives to expand the Commonwealth’s world class innovation economy including $2 million for a Big Data Innovation and Workforce Fund to promote the use of big data, open data and analytics, and $2 million for the Innovation Institute Fund at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC).

The legislation also creates a $1 million talent pipeline program that will provide matching grants aimed at increasing technology and innovation internships, and another $1 million for a start-up mentoring program to connect early-stage entrepreneurs, technology startups and small business with experienced business enterprises and capital financing.

A separate provision increases the Housing Development Incentive Program’s (HDIP) annual cap from $5 million to $10 million over the next four years, and allows larger developments to qualify by eliminating the 50-market-rate unit per project cap. The expansion of the HDIP will provide residents of Gateway Cities with increased access to market-rate as well as affordable housing. 

The legislation also:

·         Expands on the Commonwealth’s international tourism and marketing efforts, capitalizing on new connections overseas, helping to bring more businesses and jobs to Massachusetts and more tourists to our world class destinations;

·         Increases the total financing allowed under the Infrastructure Incentive (I-Cubed) program from $325 to $600 million, and raises the number of allowed I-Cubed projects within any community from three to eight. The program provides innovative financing for public infrastructure projects expected to leverage significant economic investment;

·         Dedicates $3 million to the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Fund, which provides a flexible method for funding affordable housing for low-income families and individuals;

·         Establishes a financial services advisory council to exchange ideas and develop strategies for business and government to work together to strengthen the Commonwealth’s financial services industry; and

·         Creates a job creation incentive under the Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP), allowing business to receive a tax credit up to $1,000 per job created, or up to $5,000 per job created in a Gateway City, so long as the total credit per project does not exceed $1 million.

Along with signing the bill, Governor Patrick also included a number of vetoes and amendments including sections 52, 65 and 97, which propose a new “live theater” tax credit. This new tax credit does not satisfy the 2012 Tax Expenditure Commission’s requirement of a clear societal purpose that is most efficiently met by the proposed tax expenditure, and it is not needed to encourage these kind of investments. The Inspector General has criticized the lack of sufficient safeguards in this provision to ensure that the credits are properly directed.

Governor Patrick also vetoed Sections 101 and 115, which designate entire municipalities as an “eligible location” under Chapter 40R. A blanket designation of an entire town as an “eligible location” conflicts with the goal of Chapter 40R to encourage communities to create smart growth zoning districts near transit stations, in areas of concentrated development such as existing town centers and in other highlight suitable locations.

Governor Patrick also returned back for amendment two other provisions of the bill requiring a study of the “angel investor” tax credit and requiring telephone counseling rather than delaying for two years the requirement for counseling new mortgage holders. 

洪慧珠 8/15 赴華府履新 經文處歡迎僑胞加入送機行列

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長洪慧珠將於本週五(8月15日)下午2時搭乘UA517前往華府就任副代表新職，經文處歡迎僑胞前往送。有意出席者，可向僑教中心報名，並於週五中午12:30分在Logan Airport, Terminal B 集合。

GOVERNOR PATRICK SIGNS GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION TO HELP CURB GUN VIOLENCE, PROTECT FAMILIES AND BUILD SAFER COMMUNITIES

BOSTON – Wednesday, August 13, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today signed H. 4376, "An Act Relative to the Reduction of Gun Violence,” long-awaited gun safety legislation that seeks to curb the gun violence that impacts families and neighborhoods across the Commonwealth. 

“Our communities and our families are safer when irresponsible gun sales and use are reduced,” said Governor Patrick. “This Legislation moves us in that direction.”

This legislation builds on the Commonwealth’s Nation-leading gun laws by making Massachusetts compliant with the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), creating new firearms crimes such as assault and battery by discharge of a firearm and enhancing sentences for existing firearms crimes like trafficking in firearms and gun related deaths. It also increases the safety of children while attending school through mandated the creation and review of school emergency response plans and direct communication with local police and fire departments.

                                                          

“From strengthening background checks to improving school safety, this legislation puts our Commonwealth at the very forefront of efforts to reduce gun violence,” said Congressman Joe Kennedy. “I urge my colleagues in Congress to follow Massachusetts’ lead and pass federal legislation to comprehensively address this country’s heartbreaking scourge of gun violence.”

“As an active member of the U.S. House Democratic Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I am proud to point to Massachusetts as a national leader in gun violence prevention,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “Massachusetts has proven that adopting common-sense legislation to ensure gun safety and keep guns out of the hands of people found to be dangerously mentally ill is the right thing to do.”

The new law requires the Commonwealth’s courts to transmit all relevant mental health and substance abuse commitments, domestic violence convictions, restraining orders and guardianship appointments to the Massachusetts criminal justice information system for inclusion in NICS available to all states for the sole purpose of firearms licensing. Further, the law makes a felony conviction a lifetime disqualifier for all firearms licenses and adds a suitability determination to Firearms Identification cards (FID), by which local licensing authorities may petition the district court to find an FID applicant unsuitable. Firearms dealers will also be required to conduct Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) checks on employees.

“This law recognizes the critical intersection between gun violence, suicide prevention, mental health care, domestic violence and school safety by tackling them together in a meaningful way,” said Attorney General Martha Coakley. “By ensuring we comply with the national background check system and closing the gun show loophole, we also have new tools to reduce gun violence and protect our communities. I applaud Governor Patrick, Speaker DeLeo and the Legislature for their leadership on this critical issue.”

"This legislation takes the necessary steps to ensure a safer Commonwealth," said Senate President Therese Murray. "Through this legislation we are supporting tighter regulations, enhanced penalties and increased protections for our schools, children and families in an overall effort to reduce the impact and prevalence of gun violence in our communities."

“While our state already has some of the strongest gun laws in the Nation, we seek not just to be among the safest states in our own country, we strive for Massachusetts to stand with the safest places in the world," said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “I extend my sincerest thanks to Governor Patrick, Senate President Murray, my colleagues in the legislature, especially those who worked so hard to craft a bill with broad support, the members of the gun safety task force led by Northeastern University Associate Dean Jack McDevitt, and gun safety activist John Rosenthal for helping to make this day possible."

The legislation also:

• Eliminates the distinction between Class A and Class B Licenses to Carry (LTC);
• Requires the state’s Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) to create a “real-time web portal” to revamp the private firearms sale process;
• Requires the Chief of Police and school Superintendent to assign a school resource officer to each school district; and
• Requires schools to address mental health needs of students and staff.

“Curbing the gun violence that plagues so many of our families and communities in the Commonwealth is among the highest priorities of this Administration,” said Public Safety Secretary Andrea Cabral. “H. 4376 is strong and balances public safety needs with individual privacy and ownership rights. I applaud the Legislature for addressing this issue with realistic solutions.”

This bill builds upon gun safety measures Governor Patrick has filed since first taking office, most recently filed in January 2013, and coincides with the legislative momentum building here and across the country to strengthen gun laws following the tragic shootings that have occurred throughout the Nation in recent years. In 2011, Governor Patrick launched the Massachusetts Safe and Successful Youth Initiative, a multi-faceted strategy for eliminating youth violence in the Commonwealth. To implement this strategy, the Governor issued Executive Order No. 534, which emphasizes the Administration's commitment to partnering with local officials to tackle this issue. The Safe and Successful Youth Initiative received $4.6 million in funding in the Fiscal Year 2015 budget.

In 2010, Governor Patrick signed "An Act Reforming the Administrative Procedures Relative to Criminal Offender Record Information and Pre and Post Trial Supervised Release," which allows District Attorneys the ability to request dangerousness hearings for individuals charged with carrying an illegal firearm, illegally possessing a machine gun or sawed off shotgun, a high capacity firearm or possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. Dangerousness hearings allow a court to hold defendants without bail before a trial on an assessment of the defendant's risk to the community.

“This legislation creates more accountability for all the participants in the firearms licensing process,” said Representative Garrett Bradley. “I want to express my appreciation to my colleagues in the Legislature for addressing school safety, mental health services, criminal firearms trafficking and enhancing the record keeping and licensing processes while preserving the constitutional rights of legal gun owners.”

“I am extremely proud to have played a role in the passage of this historic  gun violence prevention legislation,” said Representative David Linsky.  “The bill signed into law today by Governor Patrick is a major victory for public safety that is the result of 18 months of work and diligence in crafting a balanced piece of legislation.  Massachusetts will now have the most effective laws in the country to prevent gun violence. The new law will save lives.   I would like to thank everyone who played a role in the passage of this bill.”

"Today marks a historic day in the Commonwealth, with Governor Patrick's actions today to sign this bill into law,” said Boston Mayor Martin Walsh. “Gun violence is not rooted in one single cause, and through this legislation we can take a comprehensive approach to effectively address this issue. We have to work together to prevent gun violence in every city and town, and I am optimistic that Boston will be provided with additional tools that can be used to curb urban violence and bring peace to our neighborhoods. Every single victim matters, and this legislation sends that message to those touched by senseless violence. I thank Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Murray, the members of the Massachusetts State Legislature and Governor Patrick for bringing this crucial legislation to fruition."

王雷：海歸回中國創業要懂得本地化

          八方視界（8 D World）創辦人兼執行長王雷，九日在紐英崙中華資訊網路協會（NECINA）座談中分享創業經驗，告誡有心回中國開創事業者，要少走彎路，得瞭解國情，會動用當地人才，學建立“血脈關係”。

            其中建立血脈關係的兩條最便捷道路， 一是子女升學教育，二是家人父母醫療。

            網協現任會長陶東斌，副會長王振榕，總經理楊湛萍，NEW3.0召集人王新濤，創業俱樂部新任主持人關妙蘭，曾任公關的吳丹揚，董事陳君瑤，鄭茹，資深會員杜星望等人，這天紛紛出席與老夥伴歡聚。

            王雷是網協第八任會長，也是現任董事。他從復旦大學應用力學系畢業，1988年來美深造，取得維琴尼亞理工大學工程力學博士學位，一度獲美國工程院選為100明年清傑出工程師之一。後來再進修，取得麻省理工學院企管碩士學位（MBA），腦子也從工程師的專注於科技，轉向要創業，走上做銷售，發展企業的路。

            當年畢業後，王雷在朗訊（Lucent）做過市場開發經理，在波士頓咨詢公司為客戶提供B 2 B電子商務策略咨詢，也在固特異擔任過項目主管，高級工程師。

            他是進麻省理工學院修企業管理後，才有了創業念頭，和人合夥開辦安普特瑞斯軟件公司（Emptoris），承擔起鋪排，打造全球銷售渠道重任。當時全公司營業額中的30%，不下五千萬美元都來自他的部門，但是無形的“玻璃天花板”，一直擋在他和執行長這職位間。

            後來安普特瑞斯被IBM收購，讓他動起二度創業念頭。

這回，他想回中國創業。

早在1999年隨一個代表團回中國訪問時，王雷就已經覺得中國到底是自己家鄉，更有親切感，又因為人活這一輩子，不就為體會，獲取經驗？而中國這些年發生的動盪變化，絕對能給人更豐富經驗。因而從2002年起，他就有著將來要做些和中國相關事情的念頭。

            2005年時，“第二生（2^nd Life）“這應用軟體，廣受大眾歡迎，許多人都藉此實現獲取不同人生經驗的滿足感。那啟發了他的靈感，找到一批絕佳的語音專家，軟體程式專家，要利用類似做法，幫助人打破時間，空間限制，不用出國，就能學好英語。

            由於概念具創新性，團隊技術能力高，他們在開創初期，完全不憂慮資金，但是花幾百，甚至上千萬元設計，生產出來的產品，受歡迎卻黏不住用戶，讓他們心理大受打擊，幾經折騰才明白，原來中國家長最關心能否提分，也就是幫助孩子提高考試分數。

            王雷以此為例的指出，很多海歸在中國發展受挫，其實多半因為自以為是，不了解美國與中國的文化，辦事方式不同，包括在中國經營公司，得負擔44%的福利，請人走路得付很高的遣散費等人事成本極高；如今的“九十後“員工，可以因為對一點小地方不滿意，或是還在上班途中，收到另一公司的聘約通知，只不過薪資略高，也會應聘上班才兩小時，就轉身不見人影，還音訊全無。至於恰到好處的拿捏如何吃喝送禮，也是一大考驗。

            王雷坦言，中國大陸是個機會很多，可能無限，挑戰不少的地方，但那兒人親，土親，即使周旋得累，也讓人覺得更有意思。他坦率分享個人經驗，主要是希望給人他山之石，可以攻錯的借鑑。

           王雷的“八方視界”目前發展穩定，產品已在中國鋪開，甚至還出口到了越南。

圖片說明：

            八方視界（8 D World）創辦人兼執行長王雷回波士頓分享經驗。（菊子攝）

            網協董事陳君瑤（前左），杜星望（前右）夫婦，和王雷（前中）都已認識多年。（菊子攝）

            陳君瑤（右一），李天舒（左一）都曾任網協總經理。這天特地邀請在Transamerica做財務顧問的薛虹（左二）出席。（菊子攝）