B.A.A. Sets Field Size of 30,000 Entrants for 2015 Boston Marathon

B.A.A. Sets Field Size of 30,000 Entrants for 2015 Boston Marathon^®

Registration opens on Monday, September 8. The 119^th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015.

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has set a field size of 30,000 entrants for the 2015 Boston Marathon. Registration for the 2015 Boston Marathon will open on Monday, September 8, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. ET. The B.A.A. will use the same process to register qualified runners as it used for the Boston Marathon in 2012, 2013 and 2014, allowing the fastest qualifiers in their gender and age group to register first.

The 119^th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015, Patriots’ Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , and will mark the 30^th consecutive year that the event will have John Hancock Financial as its principal sponsor.

Working in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route, the B.A.A. established the field size at 30,000 entrants, which is the third-largest field size in the event’s history. From 2009 to 2013, the field size was 27,000. The Centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 had the event’s largest-ever field size of 38,708, which stood for seven years as the largest in marathon history. The 2014 Boston Marathon had a field size of 36,000.

“The B.A.A. worked with many partners for more than a year to reclaim the joy and celebration of Patriots’ Day at the 2014 Boston Marathon,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. “As we look forward to 2015, our goal is to accommodate as many participants as possible in the Boston Marathon, while maintaining the exceptional race experience and unique characteristics that make this event special. Our field size limit allows us to meet that goal, and our registration process recognizes the commitment needed to qualify and gain entry into the Boston Marathon.”

Registration will be held entirely online at www.baa.org. The qualification window for the 2015 Boston Marathon began last year on September 14, 2013. To qualify for the Boston Marathon, athletes must meet time standards which correspond to age and gender. The qualifying times for the 2015 Boston Marathon remain unchanged from recent years and are listed on the B.A.A.’s website:http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/qualifying/qualifying-standards.aspx.

Registration will occur on a “rolling admission” schedule, beginning with the fastest qualifiers. On Monday, September 8, eligible runners who have met the qualifying standard for their age and gender by 20 minutes or more may register. On Wednesday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m. ET, if space remains, registration will open for those who have met their qualifying standard by 10 minutes or more. If space remains, registration will open on Friday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET for those who have met their qualifying standard by five minutes or more. Registration will pause on Saturday, September 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET.

If space remains after the first week of registration (Monday, September 8 through Saturday, September 13), then registration will re-open for all qualifiers from Monday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. ET through Wednesday, September 17 at 5:00 p.m. ET. As during the first week of registration, race entry during this period (September 15 - 17) will be given to the fastest qualifiers in their gender and age group, as space allows. If space remains after September 17, then on Monday, September 22 registration will re-open to anyone who meets the qualifying standards on a first-come, first-served basis until the maximum field size is reached.

The registration fee for the 2015 Boston Marathon for qualifiers is $175 USD for United States residents and $225 USD for international residents.

今年麻州選民登記 8/20 截止

麻州今年的選舉，訂九月九日舉行兩黨初選，十一月四日大選。有意在初選中投票的民眾，必須在八月廿日（週三）前登記成為選民，辦妥更改投票地址，政黨登記等事宜。

            波士頓選務局為因應選民需求，將在八月廿日那天一直開門到晚上八點。五點以後抵達者，應從國會街入口進入市政府大樓，轉往241室。

             郵寄投票者，必須在信封上蓋有八月廿日之前的郵戳，並記得市政府大樓的郵遞區號是02201。選務局表示，做此提醒是因為該局往年曾見過民眾填錯郵遞區號。

            各地公共圖書館都有選民登記表供民眾拿取。

            郵寄投票表格，必須是從波士頓市政府網站上印出來的才有效。網站地址為  www.boston.gov/elections。

民眾可使用同一網站，檢閱個人的投票登記狀態。

在初選時，已聲明各人所屬黨派為民主黨或共和黨者，必須領取各自所屬政黨的選票。未登記黨派選民，可以任意選擇選票。屬於其他政黨選民，不參加初選。

             今年的麻州初選，民眾需要選擇投票的職位包括聯邦參議員，聯邦眾議員，州長，副州長，州務卿，總檢察官，財政廳廳長，稽核長，麻州參議員，麻州眾議員，以及州長委員會（Governor’s Council），以及薩福克郡的地方檢察官，治安官，遺產承辦官（Register of Probate）等。

            查詢詳情，可洽波士頓選務局 617-635-4634 ，或 election@boston.gov。

Deadline approaching to register to vote, change information for September Primary Election Day

BOSTON -- For participation in the upcoming State Primary Election, the  last day to register to vote, to change a voting address, or to change one’s political party is Wednesday, August 20, 2014. The State Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, September 9, 2014.

In order to accommodate prospective voters, the Boston Election Department in Room 241, City Hall, will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on August 20. Those wishing to register in person after 5:00 p.m. should enter City Hall from the Congress Street side (directly opposite Faneuil Hall).

Mail-in registrations must be postmarked no later than August 20. Those registrants using the US Mail should remember that the zip code for City Hall is 02201. In the past, the Election Department has seen registration forms delayed due to the use of the wrong zip code. Voter registration forms can also be found at local branch libraries.

Mail-in registration forms can be printed out from the City of Boston website: www.boston.gov/elections. Voters can also check their voting status by using the Voter Registration Search tool on the same website.   

In Primary elections, declared party members (Democrats and Republicans) must take the ballot of their political party. Unenrolled (no party) voters may choose either ballot. Voters affiliated with other political designations do not participate in Primary elections. 

The following political offices will be on the ballot this year: US Senator, US Representatives (Congressmen), Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Attorney General, Treasurer and Auditor. State Senators and Representatives will also appear on the ballot, as will the Governor’s Council. Finally, Suffolk County District Attorney, Sheriff, and Register of Probate.

For more information or any questions, please call the Boston Election Department at 617-635-4634 or email election@boston.gov.

波士頓市府免費房東講座 8/21

ED SOX PLAYERS, OFFICIALS TO ENGAGE IN ELEVEN DAYS OF COMMUNITY EFFORTS

ED SOX PLAYERS, OFFICIALS

TO ENGAGE IN ELEVEN DAYS OF COMMUNITY EFFORTS

Family of Major General Harold Greene to Be Honored During Saturday’s Game;

Hall of Fame Luncheon, Jimmy Fund Radio-telethon, and Red Sox Scholars Back-to-School Shopping all Take Place this Homestand

BOSTON, MA – The Red Sox Foundation and the club’s Community Relations Department today begin 11 days ofcharitable events and programs. The Red Sox play the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, and Seattle Mariners during a homestand that begins tonight and concludes August 24.

CVS Hitting Clinic, Thursday, August 14

Red Sox Assistant Hitting Coach Victor Rodriguez, in partnership with CVS, will host a hitting clinic for children at Fenway Park starting at 11:30 a.m.

Napoli’s Bearded Bunch, Thursday, August 14

Mike Napoli will host and meet with patients and families from Boston Children’s Hospital before the Red Sox-Astros game as part of his “Bearded Bunch” program for kids who are being treated at this facility.

  

Red Sox Hall of Fame Luncheon, Thursday, August 14

Roger Clemens, Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez, and Joe Castiglione will be inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame at a Fenway Park luncheon taking place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The inductees will also participate in a pre-game ceremony before tonight’s 7:10 p.m. Red Sox-Astros game.

CVS Hitting Clinic, Friday, August 15

Red Sox Assistant Hitting Coach Victor Rodriguez, in partnership with CVS, will host a hitting clinic for children at Fenway Park starting at 11:30 a.m.

Make-A-Wish, Friday, August 15

William Kwapil, a 19-year-old with heart disease from Greensboro, North Carolina, will be visiting Fenway Park fulfilling his wish to meet David Ortiz. The club routinely partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make such dreams come true.

Brock Holt Appearance, Saturday, August 16

Brock Holt will make an appearance at the Sports Authority in Somerville from 11 a.m.-noon. 

John Farrell Attends SABR Seminar, Saturday, August 16

John Farrell will appear at the Sabermetrics, Scouting, and Science of Baseball Seminar at Boston University from 12-12:30 p.m. benefiting the Jimmy Fund.

Greene Family to be Honored, Saturday, August 16

The family of Major General Harold “Harry” J. Greene, who was killed by an Afghan soldier earlier this month, will be honored during Saturday’s Red Sox-Astros game. Present for the tribute will be Major General Greene’s wife, retired Army Colonel Susan Myers, daughter Amelia Greene, and son Army First Lieutenant Matthew Greene and his wife Kasandra. The family will be honored at the bottom of the 5^th inning in a special “Hats off to Hero’s” tribute.

Napoli’s Bearded Bunch, Monday, August 18

Mike Napoli will host and meet with patients and families from Boston Children’s Hospital before the Red Sox-Angels game as part of his “Bearded Bunch” program for kids who are being treated at this facility.

CVS Hitting Clinic, Tuesday, August 19

Red Sox Assistant Hitting Coach Victor Rodriguez, in partnership with CVS, will host a hitting clinic for children at Fenway Park starting at 11:30 a.m.

Sox Talk, Tuesday, August 19

Red Sox players and coaches will participate in a baseball clinic with children at Garvey Park in Dorchester fromnoon – 1:30 p.m. as part of the Boston Parks & Recreation Department’s “Sox Talk” program. 

Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon, August 19 and 20

The 13th annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon will take place at Fenway Park on Tuesday, August 19, and Wednesday, August 20, in support of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

PLAY Campaign, Wednesday, August 20

As part of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society’s (PBATS) PLAY Campaign (Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth), approximately 80 children will take part in a clinic that raises awareness for child health issues, including obesity. The children will take part in activity stations on the field starting at 10 a.m. and will be addressed by a Red Sox player at noon.  Since its creation in 2004, PLAY has traveled to all 30 Major League ballparks and held more than 150 events to reach thousands of kids nationwide.

Red Sox Scholars Back-to-School Shopping at Target and Uniqlo, Wednesday, August 20

Target and Uniqlo will be helping Red Sox Scholars with back-to-school shopping on Wednesday, August 20. From8:30-9:45 a.m., Scholars will pick up backpacks filled with school supplies at Target in the South Bay Plaza in Dorchester. The students will then have an opportunity to shop for clothing at Uniqlo’s Faneuil Hall Market Place pop-up store from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Red Sox pitcher Craig Breslow will help the kids pick out clothes in Faneuil Hall from 11:15-11:45 a.m.  

Sox Talk, Wednesday, August 20

Red Sox players and coaches will participate in a baseball clinic with children at Ryan Park in Charlestown from noon – 1:30 p.m. as part of the Boston Parks & Recreation Department’s “Sox Talk” program. 

Papi’s Pals, Wednesday, August 20

A group of children from MassGeneral Hospital for Children will meet with David Ortiz and enjoy the game courtesy of the slugger’s program for kids who are being treated at the facility

Flyin’ Hawaiian All Stars, Wednesday, August 20

As part of Shane Victorino’s ticket program for kids, a group of children from the Red Sox Foundation’s RBI Program will be hosted at Fenway Park. 

Player/Fan Photo Day, Wednesday, August 20

On Wednesday, August 20, the club will host Player/Fan Photo Sessions at the Souvenir Store on Yawkey Way, where fans can meet and take photos with “a player to be named later” following batting practice.

Napoli’s Bearded Bunch, Thursday, August 21

Mike Napoli will host and meet with patients and families from Boston Children’s Hospital before the Red Sox-Angels game as part of his “Bearded Bunch” program for kids who are being treated at this facility.

CVS Hitting Clinic, Thursday, August 21 & Friday, August 22

On August 21 and 22, Red Sox Assistant Hitting Coach Victor Rodriguez, in partnership with CVS, will host a hitting clinic for children at Fenway Park starting at 11:30 a.m.

Make-A-Wish, Sunday, August 24

In conjunction with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Quentin Rios, a 3-year-old with a brain tumor from San Francisco, California, will fulfill his wish of attend a Red Sox game on August 24.   

Picnic in the Park, Sunday, August 24

The homestand concludes with Picnic in the Park, the annual charitable fundraiser hosted by the Red Sox players and their wives benefitting two of the Red Sox Foundation’s charitable programs, the Red Sox Scholars and Red Sox RBI and Rookie League inner city youth baseball programs. The fan-friendly event, which will be held one hour after the conclusion of the Sunday, August 24, Red Sox-Seattle game, allows fans to enjoy a BBQ picnic on the field, a chance to get autographs from current Red Sox players, and the opportunity to bid on unique items and experiences during a live auction.

Mayor Walsh Creates Separate Zoning Board of Appeals Process for Small Businesses, 1-2 Family Owner-Occupied Residential Cases

Mayor Walsh Creates Separate Zoning Board of Appeals Process for Small Businesses, 1-2 Family Owner-Occupied Residential Cases

Move will cut wait times for relatively minor zoning variances needed to open a small business or perform home renovations

BOSTON – Fulfilling a commitment made in his 101 Days Report, Mayor Walsh announced the creation of streamlined Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) process for small businesses and 1-2 family owner-occupied residential applications.

A subcommittee of the Zoning Board of Appeals will meet bi-weekly on Thursday nights to hear zoning relief requests from small businesses and smaller residential projects. The move will aid small businesses and homeowners making renovations to their properties, by separating smaller projects from major developments.  

"Small businesses should not have to wait along major development to have their zoning relief requests heard," said Mayor Walsh. "This move will provide immediate relief, while we continue to pursue more fundamental regulatory reforms and zoning updates." 

"This change will allow one and two family homeowners and small business to request zoning relief without having to take time out of the weekday schedule to do so," said William 'Buddy' Christopher, Commissioner of Inspectional Services. "This is just one more promise that the mayor made that his delivering."

The first hearing of the ZBA Small Business and Owner-Occupied Residential Subcommittee will be September 11, 2014. Staff is currently examining ZBA cases scheduled for September, October and November, and contacting applicants eligible for the streamlined process. Applicants interested in having their appeal heard through the subcommittee should contact 617-635-5300.

This reform is the latest improvement to Boston’s permitting and licensing system, led by Mayor Walsh’s interagency permitting team, which has been meeting regularly since February to improve the process, technology and tracking of permit applications citywide.

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.