RED SOX INSTALL FREE WIFI AT FENWAY PARK

RED SOX INSTALL FREE WIFI AT FENWAY PARK;

Tributes to Pedro Martinez, Healthy Foods from Fenway Farms,

New Kids Meals among summertime promotions and second-half initiatives

BOSTON, MA – Starting this Friday night, fans of the Boston Red Sox will have access to free WiFi service throughout Fenway Park.  For the first time, all fans will be able to surf the internet for free, eliminating the need to use their cellular data and providing faster service.  The improvement is part of a host of initiatives, events, and promotions that follow the All-Star Break, the proverbial half-way point of the season.

Viva, Pedro…Viva, Dominicana!

To celebrate Pedro Martinez’s induction this Sunday into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Red Sox will present a series of tributes, including a two-day, two-language retirement of his uniform number on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Because the Sunday Red Sox game versus Detroit was moved to 8 p.m. to accommodate ESPN, fans can watch Pedro’s speech on the Fenway Park videoboard at 7 p.m.  On Monday, the club will give all fans attending the game Fathead decals honoring him and his Number 45.

On Tuesday, July 28, in ceremonies presented in English, the club will retire his number, and will give fans attending the game a replica of his Hall of Fame plaque, presented by Golds Horseradish. 

On Wednesday, July 29, the club will pay tribute to fans from his native Dominican Republic, repeating the ceremony in Spanish as part of “Viva Dominicana Night.”  Fans will receive Dominican flags and postcard replicas of Martinez’s Hall of Fame plaque copy in Spanish.  On both nights, Pedro’s actual new bronze Hall of Fame plaque will be on display at Fenway, and fans are invited to take pictures of it and with it.  (It will also be accessible to all fans at the Red Sox Team Store on Yawkey Way Wednesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.)  Pedro will attend both nights.

The homestand versus the Detroit Tigers, the Chicago White Sox, and the Tampa Bay Rays is the first of two straight that are 10 games in 10 days, the longest of the season.

More Good News for Kids

In a season in which the Red Sox are “Calling All Kids,” presented by Hood, children 14 and under can enjoy a new Kids Meal from Aramark, the Fenway Park concessionaire.  Grilled Cheese, Animal Crackers, and Capri Sun will be sold at a new Kids Concession Stand located inside Gate K (for Kids) on the Kids Concourse, which opened at the beginning of the season. 

The meal is the second Kids Meal, in addition to the popular peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Goldfish, and Capri Sun Kids Meal previously introduced.  Kids Meals are only $5.  Other new kids fare includes chicken fries and frozen chocolate covered bananas.

Tasty Burger, the official burger of the Boston Red Sox, will also present a kids’ meal at their stand at the Ketel One Vodka Third Base Deck.  It features a cheeseburger or hamburger, mini tater-tots, and a surprise Tasty Burger treat.

A revamped Kids Concourse now features the speed-of-pitch attraction (formerly on Yawkey Way), a DJ playing music on weekend day games, and Fenway Bingo cards at a nearby Fan Services Booth and Gate D & E.

Fenway Farms Growing Wild

The growth of vegetables at the popular new Fenway Farms on the ballpark’s roof has inspired two Fenway Farms Delis, one in the Right Field Concourse and one on the third base side across from the Visitors’ Clubhouse.  Kale Salad with assorted fixings—all home grown—and a Kale Chicken Caesar Wrap, are among the new offerings. Fenway Farms, featuring vegetables grown in full view at Fenway Park, is presented by Stop & Shop, Dole, Sage Fruit, and Aramark.

Budweiser Brew House:  From Fish Tacos to Banana Splits

Now open to all ticketed fans, the Right Field Roof Deck has a new Budweiser Brew House.  Specialty food options include fish tacos, truffle-parmesan fries, flatbreads, Reuben sandwiches, and banana split brownie sundaes.  A DJ plays music pregame Fridays and Saturdays.

More Menu Options from Aramark

Meatball Obsession, the Kids Concourse kiosk serving turkey and beef meatballs in a cup, adds a new stand on Yawkey Way.  Meatball Obsession is the official Meatball of the Boston Red Sox. 

Aramark will also introduce a new Green Monster steak and cheese loaded sub, on the Green Monster, at Yawkey Way, Gate E, the Big Concourse, and the Home Plate Concourse.

Finally, to help celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the 1975 Red Sox World Series team, the Red Sox, Aramark and Coca Cola have released four souvenir soda cups featuring these 1975 stars: Carlton Fisk, Luis Tiant, Bernie Carbo, and Fred Lynn.

Seat Upgrades

Fans can now upgrade their seats after they have entered the park through mlb.com’s Ballpark App.  Selecting the “Upgrade” option, fans will see a list of available seats, and the new location will be loaded on their phone and can be shown to the usher. 

Just for Moms

New Mothers’s Rooms are dedicated to those who need nursing stations, including a pod presented by Cleanwell.  Three locations include the Kids Concourse; Level 2 at the top of the grandstand behind home plate; and Level 5 behind the State Street Pavilion Box.

A Bit More About WiFi, DAS, and Connectivity

Earlier this season, the club expanded the ballpark’s cellular network and Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to deliver improved wireless cellular service within the ballpark. The WiFi expansion, in partnership with Major League Baseball Advanced Media, has tripled Fenway Park’s WiFi capabilities, making it one of the most digitally connected venues in all of sports.

THE SUMMARY OF INNOVATIONS AT FENWAY PARK

1.     NEW WIFI FOR ALL FANS AT FENWAY PARK

2.     VIVA PEDRO…VIVA DOMINICANA!:

a.     Sunday, July 26:  Watch his Hall of Fame Induction Speech on the Fenway Park videoboard at 7 p.m. before the 8 p.m. game versus Detroit.

b.    Monday, July 27:  Fans receive Pedro 45 Fatheads.

c.     Tuesday, July 28: 

                                          i.    Retirement of Pedro’s 45 (in English)

                                         ii.    All fans receive replicas of Pedro’s Hall of Fame Plaque

d.    Wednesday, July 29:  Viva Dominicana: 

                                          i.    Retirement of Pedro’s 45 in Spanish

                                         ii.    Dominican flags

                                        iii.    Postcards of Pedro’s Hall of Fame Plaque copy in Spanish

3.     NEW KIDS MEALS AND MORE KIDS FARE: 

a.     Grilled Cheese, Animal Crackers, and Capri Sun

b.    Chicken Fries and Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas

4.     TASTY BURGER KIDS MEALS

5.     A REVAMPED KIDS CONCOURSE

a.     Speed of Pitch Attraction

b.    DJ on weekend day games

c.     Fenway Bingo Cards

6.     NEW FENWAY FARMS DELIS

a.     Kale Salad with the fixings

b.    Kale Chicken Caesar Wraps

7.     NEW BUDWEISER BREW HOUSE

a.     Fish tacos

b.    Truffle-parmesan fries

c.     Flatbreads

d.    Reubens

e.     Banana split brownie sundaes

f.     DJ pregame Fridays and Saturdays

8.     MEATBALL OBSESSION II—A second stand, this one on Yawkey Way

9.     GREEN MONSTER STEAK AND CHEESE LOADED SUBS

10.  SOUVENIR CUPS OF CARLTON FISK, LUIS TIANT, BERNIE CARBO, AND FRED LYNN in honor of the 40^thanniversary of the 1975 AL Champions

11.  SEAT UPGRADES USING MLB.COM’S BALLPARK APP

12.  MOTHER’S ROOMS (FOR NURSING)

E3! Ambassadors: Educate, Engage, and Empower Young AAPI Leaders

E3! Ambassadors: Educate, Engage, and Empower Young AAPI Leaders

 

The E3! Ambassadors Program equips young leaders with the opportunity to work with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to brainstorm and implement their own unique ideas to help improve the overall quality of life for AAPIs across the country in the areas of education, mental health, pathways to public service, and immigration. E3! Ambassadors work to highlight key federal programs and resources in which AAPIs may be underserved.  Selected E3! Ambassadors are encouraged to conduct outreach within their campuses and communities – whether it’s setting up a table to share resources at a campus fair, facilitating a workshop during a conference, or even utilizing social media.

The 2014 inaugural class of 31 E3! Ambassadors came from 29 different cities and hosted more than 55 events during the 2014-2015 year to educate, engage, and empower their campuses and communities.

The application can be found at bit.ly/ApplyE3. The deadline to apply is August 9, 2015 at 11:59 PM ET. Please note that late applications may not be considered.

If you have any questions about the E3! Ambassador program, please contact WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov.

Olympic Ballot Coalition Calls for Immediate Release of Bid Documents

Olympic Ballot Coalition Calls for Immediate Release of Bid Documents
 

Boston, MA…Today Evan Falchuk, Chairman of Citizens for a Say, and Marty Lamb and Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, co-chairs of Tank Taxes for Olympics, questioned why it will take until next week for Boston 2024 to release the complete, unredacted Boston 2024 bid documents.  The Coalition is calling for an immediate release of the entire original Olympic bid document.
 

“It takes 4 ½ hours for radio signals from Pluto to get to Earth.  It is going to take 4 ½ days for bid documents from Boston 2024 to get to the people,” said Falchuk.  “It would take a few moments to upload the documents to their website. There’s no excuse to continue hiding these documents.”
 

Yesterday, responding to pressure from City Councillor Tito Jackson, and the likelihood of a subpoena of those documents, Mayor Walsh and Boston 2024 Chairman Steve Pagliuca said all of the original bid documents would be released - but not until sometime next week.
 

“I guess full disclosure of the documents would be problematic for their infomercial debate tonight,” said Lamb.  
 

“Boston 2024 has given every taxpayer more than enough reasons to doubt them.  If we cannot trust them regarding documents, we cannot trust them with the financial future of our state.  The stakes are way too high,” said O’Connell.  
 

“I would like to thank Councilor Jackson for pushing this issue,” added O’Connell.
 

Citizens for a Say along with Tank Taxes for Olympics have filed with the Attorney General a ballot question to prohibit tax dollars for the Olympics.  The coalition is the only group pursuing a legally binding effort to protect taxpayers.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW COMMISSIONER FOR BOSTON ELECTION DEPARTMENT

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW COMMISSIONER FOR BOSTON ELECTION DEPARTMENT

BOSTON - Thursday, July 23, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced Dion Irish as the new Commissioner of the City's Elections Department. Irish, who previously served as the Executive Director of the City's Office of Fair Housing and Equity since 2012, will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Interim Commissioner John Donovan.  "Dion Irish is a proven leader, with exceptional public service experience," said Mayor Walsh. "Dion's background in anti-discrimination enforcement brings a unique perspective to the Elections Department, and I thank him for his willingness to serve in this critical role."  "I'm thankful that Mayor Walsh has entrusted me with the responsibility to lead an agency whose performance is critical to the realization of our great democracy, and to the advancement of civil and human rights," said Irish. "I am eager to work with the staff and all stakeholders to continue to the work of the Election Department." During his time at the Office of Fair Housing and Equity, Irish was responsible for the leadership and supervision of Boston's anti-discrimination enforcement agency, which includes the fair housing and human rights commissions. He led the effort to automate the Office's housing search assistance program to create a more robust database of housing opportunities, and made it possible for interested residents to access services online. Irish also established the inter-agency Boston Lead Paint Initiative to protect children and families from lead exposure and housing discrimination, a CORI Rountable to expand employment opportunities for persons with past crimes and a regional fair housing network to share best practices and for mutual support. Deputy Director of the Office of Fair Housing and Equity Janine Anzalota will become the Interim Executive Director. Prior to his most recent role, Irish was the Assistant Commissioner and Director of Housing Inspections at the City's Inspectional Services Department for more than a decade.  Irish was the 2014 recipient of the Municipal Research Bureau Henry L. Shattuck Award for individuals who exemplify integrity, initiative, leadership and commitment to excellence in public service. In 2012, he helped to create the Boston Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance and Program - an innovative method of proactively ensuring safe, healthy housing for Boston residents - and won the 2012 Innovation Award from the National Association of City and County Health Officials for developing the first ever Massachusetts Housing Inspection Training Program. That same year, Irish won the 2012 Presidents Award from the Massachusetts Health Officers Association, for dedicated service in public health. In 2008, he received the Innovation Award from the National Association of City and County Health Officials for developing the Breathe Easy at Home Program, which created a partnership between the medical and public health fields to better address children with severe asthma. Irish is a current board member of the Madison Park Development Corporation, former President of the Antigua Barbuda Association of Boston and a former board member of the Angell Street Improvement Association.  Irish received a Master of Urban Affairs from Boston University and a bachelors of science in political science from Boston University, and is a candidate for a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University. He resides in Dorchester.  The Election Department conducts all municipal, state, and federal elections within the City of Boston. The Department ensures that elections are properly managed and conducted in accordance with City, state, and federal laws. The Department also handles the registration of voters, proper maintenance of voters' status and manages the annual listing of Boston residents age 17 and over.

波士頓推廣路邊停車付費電子化 ParkBoston軟體新增五區適用

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）七月廿一日宣布，“波士頓停車（ParkBoston）“這路邊停車時用手機付費軟體，即起擴大實施，新加五個使用區域。

該軟體已從今年一月起，在後灣區（Back Bay），以及其後增加的芬衛（Fenway）/坎摩（Kenmore）區測試使用，新增的五個區為城中區（Downtown），畢肯丘（Beacon Hill），北端（North End），西端（West End），以及查理士城。

馬丁華殊表示，越來越多駕駛人使用“波士頓停車”軟體，上個月每天約有3000人使用這軟體，六月下旬到七月中，已經每天有大約4000人使用了。市府為這進展很感高興，今夏結束前，還將把這軟體安裝進更多區域。

駕駛人可以免費下載“停車波士頓”這軟體，並在輸入所在地點的區號（zone)，以及車輛牌照號碼後，就可用來付錢給停車計時收費錶。

使用者另需為不必掏銅板的方便，付15分錢。

迄今為止，波士頓市政府已在6,750個停車計時收費錶，安裝了這停車軟體，都有街邊招牌及“波士頓停車（ParkBoston）“的貼花做標誌。

檢查停車收費的執行人員將可用手持電腦檢查駕駛人是否使用了智慧手機來付款。

馬丁華殊說，這停車軟體將在今夏結束以前，陸續安裝進南波士頓（ South Boston），南端（South End），任務丘（Mission Hill），奧斯頓（Allston），布萊頓（Brighton）等地。

這是更新波士頓市約8000個停車計時收費錶行動的一部分，在“停車波士頓”這軟體之外，把停車計時收費錶更新成智慧型，可讀信用卡，以為民眾提供更多路邊停車繳費選擇的做法，也是行動的一部分。

智慧手機使用者可上網到”park.boston.gov”，開設一個戶口，使用Google Play來下載軟體到iPhone 或安卓（Android）手機上。手機無法上網者，可以選擇使用語音付款（pay-by-voice）。

圖片說明：

            路邊停車計時收費錶上會貼有標誌。（圖由波士頓市府提供，Dan 攝）

            “停車波士頓”軟體新增了五個使用區。（圖由波士頓市府提供）

波士頓2024爭議仍多 波市議員要求索閱競標初稿

 “公民爭發言權“主席費確克（Evan Falchuk）日前在州政府大樓前，為
波士頓2024承辦奧運可能超支，呼籲選民支持以選票問題
來保護納稅人。（圖由聯合獨立黨提供）

(Boston Orange 報導) 就“波士頓2024”代表波士頓申奧發起質疑的行動，最近一波接一波。波士頓市議員提多傑克遜（Tito Jackson）要求索閱文件，“公民爭發言權（Citizens for a Say）”主席費確克（Evan Falchuk）指責“波士頓2024“不願辯論選票問題。

            波士頓市議員提多傑克遜在波士頓市長馬丁華殊飛赴梵蒂岡，討論氣候變化，人口走私等議題之際，週一（20日）時，使用平時由市長使用的移動講台，在市政府廣場前召開記者會，要求“波士頓2024“交出一份完整的，最初向美國奧委會申請承辦奧運時的競標書。

            昨（22）日，提多傑克遜辦公室發出聲明，相信議會同仁都會支持傳召“波士頓2024“執行長戴維（Richard A. Savey）到議會接受質詢的要求。

            早在一週以前就向“波士頓2024“提出過索閱文件要求，提多傑克遜在週一時表示，最早的那份競標書內容，有一部份已經公開了，但他要求索閱的事最後兩章有關政治支持，預算的部分。他表示自己並不反對奧運，其實還贊成波士頓申奧。但他反對申辦機構要求波士頓市民及市議會支持，卻不公開完整信息的作法。

            他已遞交文件，啟動傳召文件過程，並要求波士頓2024執行長戴維（Richard A. Davey）在八月十二日到波市議會接受質詢。該行動可能逼使波市議會議長林乃肯（Bill Linehan），以及其他議員就波士頓申奧一事表白立場。

            波士頓市議員吳弭（Michelle Wu）也認為，市議員也得在看過所有的文件後，才能適當表態。

            劍橋市市議員nadeem Mazen也有意在劍橋市議會內發動索要完整競標書的要求。

            “公民爭發言權“主席，也是麻州新成立黨派，聯合獨立黨（United Independent Party）黨主席的費確克，昨日上波士頓前鋒電台（Boston Herald Radio）談論波士頓2024把奧運帶到波士頓一事。

            費確克指波士頓2024面對保護納稅人免於奧運超支困窘的討論時，一向迴避以對，拒絕給納稅人一個保障，而且直到今日都還拒絕公開他們代表麻州州民，都向美國奧運委員會都做了哪些承諾。選民擔心波士頓2024會留給民眾另一個“大挖（big dig）”式債務。

            “公民爭發言權”和“為奧運沈稅（Tank Taxes for Olympics）”兩機構已合作組成“奧運選票聯盟（Olympics Ballot Coalition）。費確克表示，他們向麻州總檢察官遞交了選票問題，要防止在奧運上花稅款。該聯盟迄今是唯一一個試圖以具法律約束力方法來保護納稅人的機構。

費確克認為，波士頓2024昨日未出席波士頓前鋒電台的辯論，證明了該組織不可信任。 

一旦總檢察官辦公室同意了“奧運選票聯盟”所遞交的選票問題文字後，該聯盟若在九週時間收集到 64,750個經證實的簽名， 就可在下一次大選中，把該問題列入選票，由選民公投做決定。

麻省總醫院獲選為全美最佳醫院

大波士頓最近喜訊頻傳，麻省總醫院（MGH）被評為全美最佳醫院的第一名，達娜法伯（Dana Faber）癌症研究中心和布里根婦女醫院合作，也獲評為全美最好的癌症研究中心之一。

美國新聞及世界報導（U. S. News and World Report）七月廿一日公佈全美最佳醫院排名，附屬於哈佛大學的麻省總醫院（MGH）名列第一。

麻省總醫院去年名列第二，今年晉升一級。

美國新聞及世界報導為製作2015-2016年的全美最佳醫院排名，評估了約5,000家醫院，只有15家獲選入榮譽榜。

前五名排名依序為，麻省總醫院，Mayo診所，同列第三名的約翰霍普金斯醫院（Johns Hopkins Hospital），加州洛杉磯大學醫學中心（UCLA Medical Center），以及克利夫蘭診所（Cleveland Clinic）。

對很多人來說，麻省總醫院排名第一，並不讓人意外，因為過去五年來，該院都名列前茅。該院在耳鼻喉，糖尿病，內分泌，神經內科，神經外科，以及精神病等專科上的排名格外高。

根據維基百科，建於1811年的麻省總醫院是全美第三老的醫院，在新英格蘭地區則是最老，最大的一家醫院，共有950個床位。每年的研究預算超過七億五千萬元。從1934年至2012年，在該院工作或在該院接受過訓練的諾貝爾獎得主，共有10人。

讓人意外的是去年第九名的布里根婦女醫院（Brigham and Women），躍升為第六名。該院在治療婦科，腫瘤，心臟病上的成績，提升了該院地位。

            另外值得人注意是，麻州眼耳醫院（Mass Eye and Ear）在耳鼻喉科醫院中，也被評為全美最佳醫院。

            麻州人相當幸運，有這麼多世界級的最好醫院近在咫尺。

        達娜法伯/布里根婦女癌症中心（Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center ）已連續15年被評為新英格蘭地區的最佳癌症治療醫院，也連續第四年被評為全美最佳醫院之一。

            美國新聞及世界報導今年是第26年辦理這全美最佳醫院排名，評選結果將刊在八月份出版的“2016年最佳醫院指南”一書中。

達娜法伯執行長本斯（ Edward J. Benz, Jr., MD）和布里根婦女醫院董事長拿貝爾（Betsy Nabel, MD ）表示，兩機構的合作，創造了最佳結果。

            六月份時，美國新聞及世界報導把達娜法伯/波士頓兒童癌症及血液疾病中心評為全美治療小兒科癌症的第一名。