AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT AGAINST CHARITY THAT FALSELY CLAIMED TO HELP MASSACHUSETTS VETERANS

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT AGAINST CHARITY THAT FALSELY CLAIMED TO HELP MASSACHUSETTS VETERANS

Settlement Part of National Effort to Combat Deceptive Veterans Charities

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today announced a settlement with a Connecticut-based veterans charity that violated state charitable solicitation laws and misled potential donors. The announcement is part of a joint national effort by the Federal Trade Commission and states and U.S. territories called“Operation Donate with Honor,” a new donor education campaign aimed at battlingdeceptive and unlawful charitable solicitation for charities that falsely purport to serve our veterans.

In the settlement with the AG’s Office, Focus on Veterans has agreed to comply with Massachusetts solicitation laws and pay $60,000, which the AG’s Office transferred last month to two legitimate Massachusetts veterans charities.

“Misleading veterans charities defraud donors, veterans, and military families, and hurt legitimate organizations engaged in this vital work,” said AG Healey. “We will take action to shut down charities scams and are glad to partner in national efforts to support charities for veterans.”

After receiving Superior Court approval, the AG’s Office transferred $30,000 of the settlement funds to Brighton Marine Health Center Inc. to assist veterans battling homelessness, and $30,000 to the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts Service Fund Inc., where the funds will be used for a program that helps transport veterans to VA medical appointments. The court determined that the programs at these charities were most closely aligned with the original intent of Focus on Veterans donors in Massachusetts.

The AG’s lawsuit against Focus on Veterans Inc. found that in addition to failing to properly register with the state, the charity falsely represented that its donations would be used to assist Massachusetts veterans in various ways, including providing housing and transportation assistance.

As part of Operation Donate with Honor, the coalition of participating states and territories announced more than 100 actions against fraudulent charities and individuals that take advantage of consumers by falsely promising their donations will help veterans and service members. Other law enforcement actions announced today by the FTC and states included complaints against charities that made false promises to help homeless and disabled veterans, used deceptive prize promotion solicitations, or falsely claimed that donations would be tax deductible.  

Operation Donate with Honor was developed by the FTC and the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO), the association of state offices charged with oversight of charitable organizations and charitable solicitations in the United States. The initiative pairs enforcement actions with an education campaign and informative videos in English and Spanish to help consumers recognize charitable solicitation fraud and identify legitimate charities. Representatives from every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico are participating.

AG Healey’s Office encourages potential donors, regardless of where or how they choose to donate, to learn how to spot fraudulent and deceptive solicitations and make sure their contributions benefit veterans and service members. When donating to a charity, the AG’s Office advises consumers to:

• Ask for the charity’s name, website and physical location.
• Ask how much of any donation will go to the charitable program you want to support.
• Search the charity’s name online with the word “scam” or “complaint.” See what other people say about it.
• Check out the charity’s ratings at the Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch or Charity Navigator.
• Never pay with cash, a gift card or by wiring money.
• Consider paying by credit card, which is the safest option for security and tax purposes.

Before giving to a charity, read the AG Office’s website. Donors and business owners can also find information to help them donate wisely atFTC.gov/Charity.

波士頓學校委員會批准付給張欽棠30萬元 惹出違反公開會議法質疑

(Boston Orange) 波士頓前任公校總監張欽棠(Tommy Chang)將獲得大約30萬元，最多一年的醫療保險，以及一封正面的推薦信。波士頓環球報以一篇報導指稱，波士頓學校委員會在明顯違反了麻州公開會議法的一次會議中，通過了這些條件。

根據波士頓環球報的計算，這數額是以張欽棠的一年薪資$267,383為準，計算出來的，其中包括約等於3萬元的27天還未使用休假日，以及3天私人事務日。

張欽棠是在2015年時簽下了5年受聘合約，如果學校委員會在沒有任何理由下解決他的合約，他有權獲得一整年的薪資。

張欽棠在7月18日，週三的一個訪問中表示，波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)告訴他，想要轉向另一個方向。張欽棠說雖然他想要留下來，但他最後決定離開。他曾希望有機會做完合約任期，無論波士頓市需要他做什麼，他都準備著，他會支持這個學校系統和城市。

            在推薦信中，學校委員會讚揚張欽棠在創造策略彌平成就差距，以及給不同背景學生教育機會上的工作成績。該信還稱”張博士和學校委員會的合作，也支持了獲取藝術，安全飲水，側重恢復正義的行為標準等重要政策的制定。我們感謝他的合作，以及他在領導一個複雜學校系統朝向平等，改善學業上的努力。

張欽棠的離職，已經成為學校委員會的惡夢，讓許多家長及支持者懷疑他們的可信任程度。根據州法，學校委員會應該有權聘僱，評估，辭退一名公校總監。在學校委員會的兩份張欽棠評鑑中，委員們認為他總體表現幹練，儘管他們也註記著他需要在溝通及和家庭互動上需要改善。

有些家長及支持者表示，學校委員會明顯的想要把這協議在公眾面前隱藏起來，持續的缺乏信任與透明度，讓社區受苦。

學校委員會是什麼時候批准合約，並不清楚，但這協議是由波士頓市和學校委員會在7月9日時簽署的。張欽棠則是7月6日簽署，然後7月13日再簽一份附件，放棄所有的申訴權。

在週一的會議中，學校委員會委員完全沒有向公眾宣佈，他們已經和張欽棠達成協議，也沒有在公眾面前投票來批准花這錢來執行協議。

遞出”公開資訊法”要求的麻州雜誌(Commonwealth Magazine)，是第一個把這協議帶到大眾面前的機構。

張欽棠預定在7月27日會收到這筆付款，而學校委員會的下次會期是排在9月12日。

4校學生聯袂參加羅大暑期營 歡樂收割滿行囊

4校學生聯袂參加羅大暑期營　歡樂收割滿行囊

(Boston Orange)受到國內師生推崇的「羅德島大學暑期研習營」，成果豐盈地邁入第6年。來自東海大學、國立海洋大學、國立雲林科技大學及元智大學共38位同學，在積極的準備下，踏上海外進修和人文陶冶雙管並進的學程。在將近4週的遊學之旅，廣受羅德島大學老師和助理的好評，一致認為是歷年以來學習精神和紀律最佳的團隊。

駐波士頓辦事處處長徐佑典特別於7月14日以自助餐形式接待研習營指導老師、助理及學生，並在席間代表中華民國政府致詞勉勵與會學生，對於同學們願意跳出固有學習模式，利用暑期到美國東北岸學術重鎮，接受生活挑戰和異文化的衝擊，感到欣慰和認同，並以當年到俄國遊學的經驗為例，與同學們分享既讀萬卷書，也抓住行萬里路的經驗和收穫。他希望同學們回國後，能更上層樓，以新的眼光和角度，策勵自己的學習和動力。徐處長並向同學們介紹波士頓辦事處在新英格蘭5州的角色和功能，提醒同學們日後若是到此地留學，不論是遇到求學的壓力或挫折，或要進一步地建立社群和人脈，都歡迎跟波士頓辦事處和教育組保持聯繫。

教育組組長陳幗珍也在餐會前感謝羅德島大學和東海大學教授，尤其是負責策劃的陳紹寬副院長及王志鴻教授，從中協調美、臺兩方學校的高度配合，並向同學們介紹教育部設立的留學獎學金、短期研習或實習機會，歡迎青年學子赴海外學習，提升台灣的國際競爭力。

好一段時間沒有嚐到台式食物的學生們，看到熟悉的家鄉菜，開心之情溢於言表，不時謝謝處長的關懷和勉勵。經過兩星期的研習課程，同學們表示能慢慢適應美國教學環境，課堂上也敢發言，並用英語表達。他們說，美國教師比較重視學生的回應，鼓勵學生勇於嘗試，所以他們不害怕犯錯，在學習過程中得到鼓勵與信心。也有同學表示，學校舒適的自然校園環境，有助於思考學習。

這群來自臺灣的學生，除在課堂上認識美國歷史文化，也躬奉其盛地欣賞到美國獨立紀念日煙火，以及當地著名的海岸豪宅。他們雖不大習慣美式食物，但是羅德島大學舒適的食宿供應和貼心的學生生活助理，使他們很快地融入生活，馬上進入學習課程。問到參加的動機，有同學表示要提升自我語言能力，尤其是幾位過去參加的遊學生，現在已經進入羅德島大學深造，更是激勵他們作長遠的準備。也有人想藉機訓練自己獨立或是擴大學習範疇。在家人的支持和期待下，他們能赴美修讀學分，心裡充滿感恩，深感不虛此行。

羅德島大學與東海大學、國立雲林科技大學及國立海洋大學簽有國際合作備忘錄，每年暑期的研習營，則是雙方實質合作的最佳例證。因著過去的經驗累積和不斷改進，目前該研習營已建立良好的口碑，參加暑修的學生絡繹不絶，使得羅德島大學成為國內大學校院爭取合作的最佳對象。其中還有同學連續2年參加，對全英文的上課方式，覺得有挑戰、有樂趣！

為了增加交流機會，羅德島大學安排台灣學生與該校中文領航計畫暑期班學生入住同一宿舍，增加彼此互動。由於中文暑期課程學生只能說中文，所以藉著語言交換練習的機會，兩國的學生得以認識不同的文化，開拓國際視野。盼望這樣的合作模式，能進而發展為雙向交流，吸引美籍學生赴台進修，研讀華語或學位，認識瞭解台灣社會及文化，達到雙贏的目標。(駐波士頓經文處教育組提供)

波士頓民眾聚會 紀念劉曉波辭世一週年 (圖片)

波士頓北一女校友會夏日郊遊 85人樂融融

大波士頓北一女校友會夏日野餐合影。(北一女校友會提供)

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)波士頓北一女校友會七月十四日在艾克頓鎮(Acton)的Nara公園野餐，85名校友與嘉賓在半山腰上賞美景，話家常，用餐點，競答趣味提問，大跳健身尼雅運動，人人滿臉帶笑，興高采烈的歡渡了一下午，還宣佈喜訊，有30人加入永久會員行列。

波士頓北一女校友會會長江佩蓉(左起)和幹部吳渝，郭明，副會長
李欣。(北一女校友會提供，趙小怡攝)

      大波士頓北一女校友會今年的會長江佩蓉，副會長李欣，財務許聰玲，幹事龍熙平，李建，徐宗玲，嚴安莉，張冕，李以蕙，2019年副會長吳萍萍等人，為這場夏日野餐活動，早已籌備多時，挑場地，訂時間，發通知，買食物，想節目之外，還特地從加州訂購來也是校友設計，以泛綠水晶製作的”北一女胸針”，作為送給加入永久會員行列者的小禮物。校友會幹事們也充當模特兒，全都配戴著或金或銀的水晶胸針或綴飾，展示效果。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典(左起)送出
小禮物給在波士頓居住時間最長的校友，吳國志，
吳渝等人。右為僑教中心主任歐宏偉。(北一女
校友會提供，趙小怡攝)

據說大波士頓北一女校友會，會員僅有100多，野餐活動過後，付出200大元，成為永久會員的人數，激增至30餘，就全拜”北一女胸針”這誘人小禮物，發揮了吸引力。

還有校友說，當天預約出席的人數，原本只有70人左右，或許是天氣太好，許多人決定臨時出席，竟然有82名大人加3名校友孫輩來到現場。

野餐活動中的二大熱點，一是持有黑帶級教練資格的校友陳秀惠，帶動跳尼雅舞，這動作並不激烈，卻能達到有氧健身效果的舞蹈；另一是”武林高手”曹伯禹，北一女校友王懿芝夫婦，在”誰會跳最多種類舞蹈”的提問環節中，勇奪獎項，還即場示範了跳國標舞美姿，搏得一片掌聲。

波士頓北一女校友會會長江佩蓉為製造會場氣氛，特地設計了一系列有趣問題，請校友搶答，符合條件的就得到蘋果一只。

這些題目包括請出席者走台步，看誰身上的綠色最多，誰最注重環保，不吃的食物最多；誰最見多識廣，去過的國家最多；誰最會讀書，拿到的證書最多；誰體重最輕有如趙飛燕，誰的全家福最龐大，有最多親友一起拍全家福照片，誰最會跳舞，能夠跳的舞蹈種類最多等。

這餘興節目玩到後來，會長江佩蓉再出謎題，”用洞簫和笛子打人”猜成語，”籠中蔦”猜古人名，”洋婆子”猜一字的讓校友們大動腦筋，競相提出”雙管齊下”，”關羽”，”要”等答案。

北一女校友會會長江佩蓉(左)介紹校友陳秀惠是黑帶級
尼雅老師。(北一女校友會提供)

波士頓北一女校友會今年迄今已舉辦過尼雅與太極講座，波士頓美術博物館參訪，以及夏日野餐等三大活動，還和其他社團合辦了春節元宵猜謎餐會。會長江佩蓉表示，下一個大活動將是預定年底舉行的年會，期間是否另外舉辦活動，就看校友們意願如何。

曹伯禹(左)、王懿芝夫婦當天獲得"舞林高手"榮譽。(北一女校友會提供)

北一女校友自己設計的別緻右美麗水晶別針。
(北一女校友會提供)

波士頓北一女校友會夏日野餐菜餚豐盛。(北一女校友會提供)

中華公所喜露街50號蓋可負擔住宅有譜了

戴維斯公司所物/華盛頓街發展計畫示意圖。

            (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 波士頓計畫及發展局(BPDA)一聲通過，紐英崙中華公所喜露街50號建可負擔住宅有譜啦，最多將蓋313個單位，其中至少26%可負擔。

            波士頓計畫及發展局(BPDA)在7月12日晚批准了兩個位於南端(South End)的發展計畫，將為波士頓市新添786個住宅單位。

其中一個是所物/華盛頓街發展計畫(Shawmut/Washington Street development)，將由雀喜市的建築隊公司(The Architectural Team Inc.) 設計，由戴維斯公司(The Davis Cos.)，紐英崙 華公所(CCBA)，波士頓華人佈道會(BCEC)合作，要建蓋三棟樓，共536個住宅單位，分別供出租、出售，其中26%，至少139個指定撥給中低收入住戶，此外還有一個新的教堂，社區空間，以及一個公園。

其中一棟樓位於所物道112號，高13層，共139個單位，由戴維斯公司建造。波士頓華人佈道會(BCEC)會擁有的所物道120號，將建成教堂禮拜，社區活動場所，以及84個住宅單位。紐英崙中華公所擁有的喜露街(Herald)50號，則將建造最多313個住宅單位。

戴維斯公司董事長Brian Fallon表示，藉由這獨特的合作關係，申請到”指定計畫區域(PDA)”，才容許他們提供社區所迫切需要的可負擔住宅，以及供居民及鄰居使用的開放公共空間。

波士頓華人佈道會資深牧師陳卓明在一份聲明中表示，這合作，容許他們建造更大的教堂，更好的服侍神與社區，也容許他們擴大辦理諸如英語班，入籍班，課餘班，夏令營等社會服務項目。他們的教堂向兒童、老人，以及所有人開放。

紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊表示，中華公所是位於華埠有將近百年歷史的機構，擁有並管理大同村，華福樓等可負擔住宅的績效、紀錄良好。他們將秉持傳統，充分利用來自戴維斯公司的連鎖金，在新建大樓中至少撥出26%做可負擔住宅。

波士頓計畫及發展局當晚也批准了墨水塊(Ink Block)大樓群附近，阿爾巴尼(Albany)街217號大樓的施工。那是國家發展公司(National Development)在墨水塊蓋的第七棟樓，由波士頓的Elkus Manfredi Architects公司設計，座落於南端一個角落，東南快速公路旁，是一棟14層高，最多有250個單位的大樓，包括327個單獨出租的”共同生活(Co-Living)”微型公寓睡房，其中有197個所謂的”微型單位(microunits)”，35個兩睡房單位，12個三睡房單位，以及六個四睡房單位。每個單位都有自己的私有廚房，浴室及起居區。計畫中的住宅單位將”可拎包入住”狀態，有傢俱，很好的無線網路，電視接頭。這大樓的另一特別之處是大樓內將有一名住在裡面的社區經理，為樓內居民安排各種社交活動。發展商形容那是個”千禧年代人士休閒勝地”，預計耗資9000萬元建造，將是墨水塊大樓群的最後一項工程。

第27屆胡桃山音樂營 7/19開營 將有19場音樂會

(Boston Orange) 中華表演藝術基金會主辦的第27屆胡桃山音樂營，訂7月19日開營，將從7月21日起推出19場音樂會，11次大師班。其中音樂會全部免費，歡迎各界出席欣賞。

中華表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵表示，該會已排定的2018/2019年度節目，除了7月份的第27屆胡桃山音樂營之外，九月份起直至明年，將有多位知名音樂家在紐英倫音樂學院喬登廳 (Jordan Hall)舉辦演奏會，期間還有第28屆全美青少年國畫書法比賽等活動。

曾經長年住在波士頓，如今在紐約茱麗亞音樂學院任教的鋼琴教授陳宏寬，7月24日晚7點半將舉行獨奏會。

第27屆胡桃山音樂營預定推出的19場音樂會，既有多場世界級大師的重量級演奏，也有許多場明日之星的清新演出。在長僅三週的營期中，大師們將和通過甄選的50名青年才俊密集切磋，激盪出風雲際會的燦爛火花。

所有演出都入場免費，建議出席聽眾每人樂捐五元。

胡桃山音樂營的所有音樂會，除8月11日那場在哈佛大學聖德斯音樂廳 (Sanders Theatre) 與水星交響樂團合作演出外，全部在Natick 胡桃山音樂學校 (Walnut Hill School) 舉行。地址及詳細內容請上網查詢http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/festival/index.htm。

以下為音樂會概況:

1, 七月二十一日星期六晚上七 點半: 國際肖邦比賽獲勝者鋼琴家,Tony Yike Yang 鋼琴獨奏會。

2, 七月二十二日星期日晚上七 點半: 鋼琴家徐小培 鋼琴獨奏會。

3, 七月二十三日星期一 晚上七 點半: 鋼琴家方壯壯 鋼琴獨奏會。

4, 七月二十四日星期二晚上七 點半: 魯賓斯坦及普松尼二項國際鋼琴大賽金牌獎主，前上海音樂學院鋼琴系主任，曾任教於紐英倫音樂學院及耶鲁大学，現任教於紐約茱莉亞音樂學院鋼琴教授陳宏寬鋼琴獨奏會。

5, 七月二十六日星期四 晚上七點半:大提琴家Jonah Ellisworth 及鋼琴家 Michael Bukhman 合作音樂會。

6, 七月二十七日星期五晚上七 點半: 鋼琴家Yue Chu 鋼琴獨奏會。

7, 七月二十八日週六晚上七點半: 大提琴家Jiyoung Lee 和鋼琴家Victor Cayres聯合音樂會。

8, 七月三十日星期一 晚上七點半:鋼琴家Larry Weng 鋼琴獨奏會

9, 七月三十一日星期二 晚上七點半: 鋼琴家牛牛鋼琴獨奏會。

10, 八月一日星期三 晚上七點半: 鋼琴Sang Young Kim鋼琴獨奏會。

11, 八月三日週五晚上七點半:音樂營教師聯合音樂會。

12, 八月四日週六晚上七點半: 榮獲2012梅紐因 ( Menuhin) 國際小提琴比賽冠軍的于翔及鋼琴家方壯壯聯合音樂會。

13, 八月五日週日晚上七點半: 由本屆傑出學生們演出“明日之星”第一 場音樂會。

14, 八月六日週一 晚上七點半: ”明日之星”第二場音樂會。

15, 八月七日週二 晚上七點半:音樂營學生和教師聯合音樂會。

16, 八月八日週三 晚上七點半Borremeo 弦樂四重奏音樂會。

17, 八月十日週五下午兩點: 音樂營學生演出獨奏及室內樂第一場音樂會。

18, 八月十一日週六下午兩點: 音樂營學生演出獨奏及室內樂音樂會第二場音樂會。

19, 八月十一日週六晚上八點: 協奏曲音樂會; 由本營管弦樂學生在哈佛大學聖德斯音樂廳與水銀 (Mercury)交響樂團聯合演出。鋼琴獨奏由本營協奏曲比賽優勝者擔任。

大師班:

1, 七月二十三日星期一下午三點 : 魯賓斯坦及普松尼二項國際鋼琴大賽金牌獎主，前上海音樂學院鋼            琴系主任，曾任教於紐英倫音樂學院及耶鲁大学，現任教於紐約茱莉亞音樂學院鋼琴教授陳宏            寬鋼琴大師班。

2, 七月二十六日星期四下午三點 : 紐英格蘭音樂學院前任校長 Laurence Lesser大提琴大師班。

3, 七月三十日星期一下午三點 :紐英倫音樂學院鋼琴教授 Alexander Korsantia鋼琴大師班。

4, 七月三十一日星期二下午三點 : 紐英倫音樂學院鋼琴教授 Victor Rosenbaum鋼琴大師班。

5, 八月一日星期三下午三點 : 普立茲音樂獎主Yehudi Wyner鋼琴和室內樂大師講座。

6, 八月二日週四下午三點 : 紐英倫音樂學院教授 Wha Kyung Byun鋼琴大師班。

7, 八月三日週五下午三點 : 著名指揮家Benjamin Zander大師班:音樂的詮釋 -人生課題。

8, 八月六日週一下午三點 : 紐英倫音樂學院大提琴教授 Paul Katz大提琴大師班。

9, 八月七日週二下午三點 : 小提琴家James Buswell小提琴及中提琴大師班。

10, 八月八日週三下午三點: 紐英倫音樂學院小提琴教授 Nicholas Kitchen示範演出及講解演講主題                    ”Well Tempered Gathering。”

11, 八月九日週四下午二點半: 由樂壇泰斗，當今最受尊敬的鋼琴家 Russell Sherman鋼琴大師班。

2018-2019音樂季開始，一連串精彩表演既將一一上場。

1, 2018年九月十五日週六晚上八時，紐英倫音樂學院喬登廳 (Jordan Hall): 鋼琴家陳宏寬鋼琴    獨奏會 。

2, 2019年一月二十六日週六晚八時，紐英倫音樂學院喬登廳:小提琴家黃俊文 及鋼琴家黃海倫聯合音樂會。

3, 2019年三月三十日週六晚八時，紐英倫音樂學院喬登廳 : Van Cliburn 國際鋼琴大賽銅牌鋼琴家 Daniel  Hsu鋼琴獨奏會 。

4, 2019年五月十一日週六晚八時，紐英倫音樂學院喬登廳 : 鋼琴家Gloria Chen 及小提琴家Soovin Kim聯合音樂會。

除上列音樂會外，2019年四月十五日: 第28屆全美青少年國畫書法賽。也將如期舉行：詳情歡迎上網查詢。"http://www.ChinesePerformingArts.net/"www.ChinesePerformingArts.net，或洽譚嘉陵會長

Univercells raises €16 million in Series B financing round led by Global Health Investment Fund

Univercells raises €16 million in Series B financing round led by Global Health Investment Fund

Investment proceeds will support commercialization of the company’s breakthrough biologics manufacturing technology

Brussels and New York, July 16, 2018 – Univercells SA (‘Univercells’) and Global Health Investment Fund (‘GHIF’) are pleased to announce the closing of a €16 million ($18.8M) Series B equity financing. Investment proceeds will support the continued development of Univercells’ game-changing biomanufacturing technology, which has the potential to dramatically reduce the capital expenditure, physical footprint and operating costs required to produce a variety of complex biologics.

The financing, which was heavily over-subscribed, is anchored by institutional commitments from prominent investment funds on three continents. In addition to GHIF (a public health-focused R&D fund based in New York), the Series B syndicate includes Seoul-based Korea Investment Partners, a leading technology investor in Asia and two Belgian technology investors: The Innovation Fund, supporting innovative chemistry and life sciences companies, and Inventures II, a leading impact venture capital fund. Rodolphe de Spoelberch, a Belgium-based independent private equity investor with a long-term horizon, is welcomed as an incoming Univercells board observer, while a variety of prominent private investors were federated by TheClubDeal, a private investment holding.

The Series B financing was catalyzed by new validations of the breakthrough biologics manufacturing solutions being pioneered at Univercells. The company’s flagship Sabin inactivated polio vaccine (sIPV) program recently achieved a 40-fold increase in polio D-antigen productivity compared to the benchmark process and manufacturing cost estimates are within striking distance of the original goal of $0.15 per dose. With continued process development and high-efficiency fill-finish operations, the Univercells sIPV technology could enable a 10-fold reduction of the current public-sector sales price.

On the heels of these milestones, Univercells is concluding technology transfer negotiations with a number of established biologics manufacturers and healthcare providers in China, India and Latin America. In parallel, Univercells will be demonstrating the versatility of its technology platform by developing turn-key manufacturing solutions for two additional public health vaccines. With the current financing in place, Univercells has the resources to commercialize a diversified portfolio of technology solutions for a variety of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and enzyme replacement therapies, with the first products available for human use as soon as 2019.

“The Univercells platform represents a unique win-win opportunity,” said Glenn Rockman, partner at GHIF and incoming Univercells board member. “Its technology has incredible potential to make complex biologics more affordable and more widely accessible, while simultaneously pursuing an enormous commercial market opportunity.”

Hugues Bultot, CEO of Univercells, added: “We are delighted by all the encouragement and interest shown to us during this capital increase, which exceeded our expectations. I am convinced we have strategically expanded the circle of Univercells shareholders to include organizations and individuals with the potential to be long-term, value-added supporters of our rapidly growing company. Importantly, all of our investors are also very closely aligned with our mission to make biologics affordable to all; they recognize the compelling financial return opportunities associated with that objective.”

Bunker Hill Community College receives $25.7 Million from Baker-Polito Administration to Modernize Capital Assets

Bunker Hill Community College receives $25.7 Million from Baker-Polito Administration to Modernize Capital Assets

BOSTON, July 13, 2018—Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) was awarded $25.7M from the Baker-Polito Administration’s to fund a major renovation project at the College’s Charlestown Campus.

The announcement was made on July 10, 2018, on the Westfield State University campus at a ceremonial bill-signing of H.4549, An Act providing for capital facility repairs and improvements for the Commonwealth, authorizing approximately $3.9 billion to address the Commonwealth’s statewide capital needs, including higher education campuses, health and human services facilities, state office buildings, public safety facilities and courts. The bond bill authorizes $950 million overall for public education investments.

“This funding will transform BHCC’s Charlestown Campus,” says BHCC’s President Pam Eddinger. “We are grateful to the Administration for authorizing this bill that will enhance the college experience for our students by providing the supports and spaces that community college students need to complete their programs and enter the workforce successfully.”

Renovations at the College’s Charlestown Campus are one of six new projects in the Administration’s capital plan for higher education. The $25.7 million grant will allow BHCC to modernize its campus by converting existing, underutilized space to create new space for the College’s growing student population. 

The largest community college in Massachusetts, BHCC serves 19,000 students annually. The main campus, a contiguous structure of approximately 450,000 square feet, has not been significantly renovated since it was built in 1973 for a student population of 4,000–less than one quarter the number of students currently served.

By re-imagining,  the College’s E-building atrium, an expansive, open-air space that spans four levels, the renovations will provide easy access and visibility for critical academic and student support services,while reclaiming significant square footage and repurposing existing space. Plans include the construction of a new Academic Success Center to expand and co-locate space for key services such as the College’s International Center; Veteran’s Center; LifeMap, an academic planning and career center; and Single Stop office, which links students with government benefits and services.

The project will also improve student success and retention, addressing critical student needs by expanding the College’s Library and Learning Commons to include integrated spaces for studying and collaboration, centralizing the College’s tutoring services and providing a welcoming social space for students to better connect with their classmates. Additionally, the renovations will include a new culinary innovation classroom to support students entering this growing field and will address deferred maintenance issues across the campus.

State Officials Urge Continued Water Conservation

State Officials Urge Continued Water Conservation

Commonwealth to Increase Monitoring of Water Resources

BOSTON – Following two months of dry weather and above normal temperatures, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) today urged residents across the Commonwealth to conserve water.  The Drought Management Task Force, composed of state, federal and local officials, continue to assess hydrological conditions across the state and determined that while conditions do not meet the level of a drought at this time, closer monitoring of water resources by government officials and water conservation by the public are necessary.

“As dry conditions continue across the state, the Baker-Polito Administration is working with the Drought Management Task Force, government officials, and stakeholders to monitor hydrological conditions and act proactively to minimize any harmful effects,” said EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton. “We strongly encourage the public to follow any local water restrictions, integrate water-saving techniques into their daily routine, minimize outdoor watering and postpone planting anything new until conditions recover.”

“With recent below normal precipitation, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is asking the public to actively conserve water by reducing indoor and outdoor water usage,” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Kurt Schwartz. “Additionally, because of the increased threat of brush and wildland fires due to the dry conditions, the public is urged to exercise caution when using matches, charcoal grills, and other open flames during outdoor activities.”

Residents can incorporate water-saving tips like these into their daily routines:

·         Limit lawn watering, and choose native plants or turf that need less water;

·         Sweep driveways, patios and other outdoor areas with a broom rather than hosing them off;

·         Take shorter showers and use water-saving showerheads;

·         Turn off water while brushing teeth or shaving;

·         Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes; and

·         Fix leaks in faucets toilets, pipes, and appliances.

The Drought Management Task Force, co-chaired by EEA and MEMA, noted at their meeting yesterday that while many of the indices are still at normal and conditions have been relatively dry over the last two months, they have worsened over the last month. Since May, the state has seen low flows at several sites in the Western Region, the Connecticut Valley and the Central Region, groundwater levels decreasing in most regions, and Fire Danger at either an Advisory or a Watch in all six regions.

The Task Force has decided to meet two times over the next month to assess conditions across the state, coordinate dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal and local agencies prepare any responses that may be needed in the future.

Several public water suppliers around the state have issued conservation measures such as outdoor watering restrictions in response to the drying conditions. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) supply system, however, is well above normal.