麻州試驗一年 發1500張青少年地鐵月票

麻州交通廳（MassDOT）首長普拉克（Stephanie Pollack ）昨（七月一）日宣佈，將發出1500份青少年月票（pass），給波士頓市，尚莫維爾市（Somerville），雀喜市（Chelsea），摩頓市（Malden），年紀在12至21歲之間的青少年，做為期一年的試驗。

            麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）表示，州政府持續和麻州交通廳，地鐵（MBTA）合作，為民眾提供世界級的，一整年的可靠交通選擇，而且也希望青少年可以享有這些選擇。

            青少年月票試驗計劃，是藉可負擔價格，讓青少年上學，工作，或參加課外活動的有創意新方法，是改善朝正確方向走的一步。

            麻州交通長普拉克和支持青少年組織聯盟的代表們，昨日在洛士百利（Roxbury）車站，宣佈了這一新措施。

            前述幾個城市和地鐵合作的這計畫，將原本供某些初高中使用的學生套票，擴大到讓地鐵服務範圍內的更多青少年都可享有。

            麻州交通廳

 “The Youth Pass Pilot Program being launched today was developed by a working group of

普拉克表示，麻州交通廳（MassDOT），地鐵（MBTA），青年支持者，以及地方市府晤談了八個月，試圖解決青少年們提出的交通問題。。青少年月票試驗計劃，就是他們討論的結果之一。

            在上學之外，

            這些月票將由合作的地方政府，而不是學校管理。這些月票是“連接票（LinkPass）”，適用於本地巴士及地鐵，一個月廿六元，或是一週七天的週票七元。各市是否提供七天週票，由市政府決定。凡是年紀在12至18歲，住在波士頓，雀喜，尚莫維爾，摩頓等城市，沒拿到學校所發學生票的人，都有資格申請。

            年紀在19至21歲者，必須能夠拿出在高中註冊就讀證明，或是GED，就業培訓項目，或者州政府，聯邦政府福利項目等的其他教育項目證明，符合以需要為根據的標準。

            這一試驗計劃將評估並收集青少年獲得的福利，開銷，以及由合作夥伴來管理減價產品的可行性等數計。參加者必須簽署表格，同意他們的使用地鐵等服務資訊被匿名收集，以評估這辦法的影響。

            MBTA的這一試驗做法，有2700名青少年申請參加。各城市獲得不同數額的青少年月票，也都建立了等候名單。

            摩頓市市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson）昨日親自載送五名摩頓高中生到落士百利車站，參加這一活動，並透露摩頓市得到約250張青少年月票，參加活動中的青少年，有三人獲得這月票。

            查詢相關詳情，可上網 www.mbta.com/youthpa。

圖片說明：

            摩頓市長葛帝生（左三）載摩頓市高中生，左起，Nicole Baltazar，鄒愛麗（譯音，Emily Zou），毛禕凝，趙瑪麗莎，Saeko Yonetani等人出席青少年月票宣佈活動後，再載他們到昨日開張的猴皇茶店，品嚐不同口味飲品。（菊子攝）

AG HEALEY SUES MEDICAL COMPANIES FOR DECEPTIVELY MARKETING TREATMENTS AT UNLICENSED MEDICAL CLINIC IN FRAMINGHAM

AG HEALEY SUES MEDICAL COMPANIES FOR DECEPTIVELY MARKETING TREATMENTS AT UNLICENSED MEDICAL CLINIC IN FRAMINGHAM
Complaint Filed against Men’s Medical Clinic for Falsely Advertising Erectile Dysfunction Treatment to Vulnerable Consumers

BOSTON – Two Florida-based medical companies and their operators have been sued for deceptively marketing and billing for medications and services relating to the treatment of erectile dysfunction at an unlicensed medical clinic in Framingham, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

“It is against the law to market services and offer treatments provided by an unlicensed medical clinic,” AG Healey said. “Our office will go after companies and individuals that take advantage of vulnerable patients seeking proper medical care.”

The complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court on Wednesday, alleges that Dr. Kevin Hornsby and Heidi Hornsby of Florida are responsible for deceptive marketing of a medical facility that went by the names Massachusetts Men’s Medical Clinic, Massachusetts Men’s Medical and Men’s Medical Clinic. 

Dr. Hornsby is licensed in Florida but not licensed with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine.

The defendants allegedly used widespread TV, print and radio advertising to market the erectile dysfunction services and treatments sold at their Framingham facility. The complaint states that they allegedly engaged in various deceptive practices, including:

• falsely representing the medications they offered as new, unique to each patient, painless and with minimal or no side effects;
• deliberately omitting from their advertising that the treatment they were selling involved a penile injection procedure that involved a needle;
• deceptively downplaying the risks of the treatment they marketed and exaggerating the failings of other medications and treatments for erectile dysfunction;
• illegally advertising their facility as a “clinic” when it did not have the required license;
• engaging in high-pressure sales tactics;
• falsely claiming that the medication they sold was by law not returnable; and
• having individuals without the appropriate license perform medical procedures, including injections, without a physician present.

According to the complaint, more than 4,000 consumers went to the unlicensed facility and collectively paid more than $5 million. The AG’s Office has received more than 20 consumer complaints about its operations.

The Attorney General is seeking penalties, restitution for consumers, and a court order permanently prohibiting the defendants from engaging in the deceptive and illegal practices in Massachusetts that are the subject of the lawsuit.

The litigation is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Emiliano Mazlen with assistance from Division Chief Karen Tseng and Legal Analyst Kathryn Doty of Attorney General Healey’s Health Care Division and Kevin McCarthy and Anthony Crespi of Attorney General Healey’s Civil Investigations Division.

Boston Creats Chinatown conversation

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF TRASH DAY WEB AND MOBILE APP

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh）宣佈，推出“垃圾日”這新的網路及移動應用程式，可容許居民輕易獲取收垃圾，回收日的時刻表，並透過短信，電郵或電話，登記收取提醒訊息。 馬丁華殊表示，波市府總是在找創新方法來回應居民需求。“垃圾日”是個讓市政府分享幾乎影響全市居民每日生活資訊的工具。 居民可以自行決定他們要在什麼時候獲得收垃圾日的提醒，該訊息會包括該週收取哪類垃圾，以及專門收葉子，或庭園廢物等的詳細資訊。 “垃圾日”也讓民眾更容易知道，如何丟棄各種不同物品，包括可回收物品或危險廢棄物。             公共工程局代理局長Michael Dennehy表示，越容易查找資訊，才讓人越容易正確丟垃圾，也越容易把不該進掩埋場的廢棄物排除在外。             製作“垃圾日‘這應用程式的計畫是在分析打到市長熱線電話中的訊息時，發現有很多都是詢問收垃圾相關問題，特別是在假日期間後執行的。現在，”垃圾日“將自動通知居民，他們的收垃圾日是否因為假日調整了。             ”垃圾日“提醒程式，可經由市府網站，或是免費的蘋果iOS，或安卓移動軟體下載。             波市府推出的“垃圾日”軟體，是由市府科技創新局的數位隊支援開發的。             查詢詳情可洽市長熱線 617-635-4500 。 MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF TRASH DAY WEB AND MOBILE APP

BOSTON - Wednesday, July 1, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the launch of Trash Day, a new web and mobile app that allows residents to easily access their trash and recycle collection schedules and sign up for reminders via text, email or phone.  "We are always looking for ways to be responsive to residents' needs in new and innovative ways," said Mayor Walsh. "This tool is a simple way for us to share information that affects nearly all of Boston residents on a daily basis." Residents can decide when they want to get their Trash Day reminders, which will also include helpful details such as what's being picked up that week and information on special collections (e.g., leaf and yard waste). Trash Day also makes it easy to find out how to dispose of various items, including recyclable or hazardous waste.  "The easier it is to look up what you can and can't recycle, the more likely you are to put items in the right bin and divert waste away from a landfill," said Interim Commissioner of Public Works Michael Dennehy. "Every little bit helps." This project was undertaken after an analysis of calls to the Mayor's Hotline showed a high volume of inquires related to trash collection, especially during holiday weeks. Now, Trash Day will automatically notify residents if their pickup schedule is adjusted due to a holiday.  Trash Day reminders and collection schedules are available through the City's websiteand through the free iOS or Android mobile app. The launch of Trash Day is supported by the City's Department of Innovation and Technology's Digital Team, and is one of many efforts to deliver a more welcoming and useful digital experience to members of the Boston community. For other issues citywide, residents are encouraged to call the Mayor's 24 Hotline at 617-635-4500 or use the Citizen's Connect smartphone app.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extended Hours at Select City Parks & Pools

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extended Hours at Select City Parks & Pools

Several DCR Facilities to Extend Operating Hours to Provide Greater Youth Access

Boston – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the Department of Conservation and Recreation will extend hours for select pools and athletic complexes throughout the state this summer. The extended hours, which are aimed at offering youth greater access to positive recreational activities over the course of the summer, will enable 16 facilities within the cities of Boston, Chicopee, Everett, Malden, and Worcester to remain open longer while kids are out of school this summer. 

“With the start of summer vacation for school children across the Commonwealth, I am pleased that we are able to offer more positive recreational opportunities that encourage and promote a healthy, fun lifestyle and safe summer,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The extended hours will provide students and families increased access to some of the state’s most popular facilities in the Commonwealth’s cities.”

"I'm thrilled that Boston residents will be able to access parks and pools later this summer," said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. "I thank the Baker administration for offering Boston additional opportunities for young people this summer." 

“Incorporating physical activities within the daily routines of a child’s life is vital for their growth and development,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “In order to facilitate that, it is important that our children are provided with places to have fun while also staying safe.”

Starting July 7, DCR will begin airing its popular Free Family Flicks in Lowell, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Somerville, and at the Esplanade’s Hatch Memorial Shell. Additionally, the agency has expanded the summer movie program to locations within Boston, Worcester, Chelsea, Lawrence, Taunton, and Fall River to provide family fun and entertainment at no charge.

“Extending the hours of operations at select pools and parks is a wonderful example of the commitment that the Baker-Polito Administration has dedicated itself to in encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle for the next generation,” said EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton. “By extending the hours of operations to many DCR facilities, state government is working with families in providing safe places to have fun.”

“Not only does keeping our parks and pools open provide safer opportunities for our children and families, it gives our communities a chance to come together and enjoy each other this summer,” said Robert Lewis, Jr., founder and President of the BASE, a Boston-based youth advocacy organization. “I’m excited that Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito are opening doors for our neighborhoods and thank them for their continuing commitment to building stronger communities in Boston and throughout the Commonwealth.”

Starting on July 9 – August 14, 2015, the following DCR facilities will commence extended summer hours:

·         Allied Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool, Everett, Thursday nights until 8:00PM in July and 7:30PM in August;

·         Higgins Street Hockey Rink, South Boston, MA, open Tuesdays and Thursdays until 10:00PM in July and August;

·         Holland Memorial Pool, Malden, MA, open on Thursday nights until 8:00PM in July and 7:30PM in August;

·         Moynihan Recreation Area, Hyde Park, Wednesday and Thursday nights the basketball courts will be open with lights on until 10:30PM in July and August;

·         Melnea Cass Swimming Pool, Roxbury, MA, open on Tuesday nights until 8:00PM in July and 7:30PM in August;

·         Melnea Cass Arena, Roxbury, will be open Wednesday and Friday nights until 10:00PM in July and August;

·         Olsen Pool, Hyde Park, MA, open Tuesday nights until 8:00PM in July and 7:30PM in August;

·         Quinsigamond State Park, Regatta Point Waterfront, Worcester, MA, open Monday and Thursday nights until 8:00PM in July and 7:30PM in August;

·         Quinsigamond State Park, Lake Park, Worcester, MA, open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday nights until 10:30PM in July and August;

·         Ryan Wading Pool, Mattapan, MA open Thursday nights until 8:00PM in July and 7:30PM in August;

·         Ryan Playground Tennis Court, Boston, MA, open Thursday nights until 10:00PM in July and August;

·         Sara Jane Sherman Memorial Swimming Pool, Chicopee, MA, open on Thursday nights until 8:00PM in July and 7:30PM in August;

·         Southwest Corridor Basketball Courts, Mission Hill, MA, open Tuesday and Thursday nights until 10:30PM in July and August;

·         Southwest Corridor Park Spray Deck, Johnson Park in Jamaica Plain, MA open Tuesday and Thursday nights until 9:00pm in July and August; and

·         Southwest Corridor Park Spray Deck, Mission Hill, MA open Tuesday and Thursday nights until 9:00PM in July and August.

“What better way to kick off July and the official start of summer than to create greater access to some of DCR’s facilities,” said DCR Commissioner Carol Sanchez. “I applaud Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito for their efforts in ensuring that several of DCR’s pools and athletic complexes will have greater accessibility to school children this summer.”

The extended hours of operations and the expansion of the Free Family Flicksprogram will compliment other programs already offered by DCR for families at the hundreds of state parks, forests, and beaches across the state. To read more about the expansion of hours at select pools and parks, please visit DCR’s webpage.