Governor Baker Signs Legislation Supporting Veterans’ Benefits and Housing

Governor Baker Signs Legislation Supporting Veterans’ Benefits and Housing 

Expands scholarship and community support opportunities; establishes Gold Star Memorial Park in Fall River

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker was joined by active duty service members and veterans of the United States Armed Services, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Secretary of Veterans' Services Francisco Ureña and members of the legislature as he signed ​An Act relative to housing, operations, military service, and enrichment, (H. 4285) or "The HOME Act," into law. The omnibus legislation provides additional support for members of the Armed Services, veterans, gold star families, and the Commonwealth's two Soldiers’ Homes. 

“We are grateful to the brave men and women who have answered the call for our nation and Commonwealth​," said Governor Charlie Baker. "I am honored to sign this legislation enhancing the services Massachusetts provides to those active service members, veterans and families who selflessly serve to secure our safety and freedom."

“This legislation provides important support for the veterans and service members of our Armed Services who have fought to uphold our nation’s values,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are pleased to provide critical assistance with financial security, housing, and educational opportunities for all those who have served and for their loved ones here at home.”

“These laws highlight our commitment as a Commonwealth to our veteran population,” said Secretary of Veteran Affairs Francisco Ureña. “I am pleased to see the legislature’s support of our country’s heroes.”

“I am so proud of the commitment from my colleagues and the Baker Administration in continuing to address the needs of our veterans,” said Senator Mike Rush, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs.  “This legislation not only provides comprehensive services and programs to those who serve their country, but give them the recognition that they deserve.  It is our job as elected officials to do all we can to support those brave men and women and their families who serve this great country.”

“There is no question that Massachusetts is number one in terms of providing services to our veterans,”said Representative Jerry Parisella, Chairman of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs.“Although we do so much for our veterans, it is important that we continue to improve the lives of those who have so gallantly served their country.”

​ The legislation (as amended in H. 4477), signed into law by Governor Baker includes:

• Section 1, Designates the Fall River Gold Star monument the official gold star monument of the Commonwealth.

• Section 4, Expands the Public Service Scholarship to extend support to benefit children of service members held as prisoners of war or missing in action in any conflict.

·        Sections 6-8, Extend pay and benefits protections for employees of the Commonwealth who serve in the National Guard units or in reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces when they are called to service

• Sections 9-10, Extend total municipal real estate tax exemption to cover surviving spouses of any service member killed during active duty service and veterans with service-connected blindness that results in a 100% disability rating from the Federal Veterans Administration.

• Section 12, Allows for municipalities to establish a way for individuals to voluntarily check off, donate, or pledge an amount of money which shall go to the Municipal Veterans Assistance Fund. The Fund provides support for vets and their dependents in need of immediate assistance with food, transportation, heat and oil expenses

·        Sections 17-20, Expand provisions establishing preferences for veterans in publicly-supported housing units.

• Sections 22-24, Add veteran status as protected class under the law prohibiting discrimination in employment (Ch. 151B, §4).

Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin J. Walsh Break Ground at Treadmark in Dorchester

Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin J. Walsh Break Ground at Treadmark in Dorchester

Former Ashmont Tire site will become 83 units of mixed-income, transit-oriented housing

Boston – July 11, 2016 – Today Governor Charlie Baker joined Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, Greater Ashmont Main Streets and officials from the real estate development firm Trinity Financial to break ground on Treadmark, an 83 unit, mixed-income housing development in Dorchester's Ashmont neighborhood.

The project transforms an underutilized neighborhood parcel, advances the Commonwealth's workforce housing production goals, and is transit oriented. It builds on past and ongoing development in the neighborhood, and follows on the success of Trimity's Carruth building, bringing more housing and retail space to Ashmont. Treadmark is advancing with significant state and city support, including over $3 million in state and federal tax credits that will generate approximately $22 million in equity for the project, $3 million in rental subsidy funds, and over $4 million in funding from the City of Boston.

“This development continues to build on our commitment to significantly increase the production of workforce housing throughout the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. "Treadmark is an impactful project for Dorchester, showcasing how affordable and workforce housing can transform underutilized neighborhood parcels, and build community in the process."

“Dorchester is a vibrant and growing neighborhood, and this development will provide new opportunities for housing and economic development for the families and residents of Ashmont,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We welcome opportunities like this to work with our local partners and collaborate on advancing the vibrancy and wellbeing of communities across the Commonwealth."

"Treadmark exemplifies the type of mixed-income and transit-oriented housing development that is needed in neighborhoods across our city," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "I am proud that the city's investment in this project will help support new affordable rental housing for families in Dorchester. I want to thank the many partners involved who helped bring this project to fruition, adding to our city's affordable housing stock and helping us achieve our housing goals."

"Community-driven housing construction is a cornerstone of our broader economic development agenda," said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “Mixed-income smart growth housing development, like Treadmark, helps keep Massachusetts competitive, by creating new opportunities for young professionals and families to set down roots.”

“Today's groundbreaking brings a strong neighborhood vision to fruition," said Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay. "We are proud to partner with the City of Boston, and with the residents of Dorchester, to move this compelling housing project forward."

“We believe this project is a model for how to create affordable and middle-income housing,” said Trinity Financial Senior Project Manager Mathieu Zahler. “This public-private partnership is a national model for collaboration; the city and the state made significant investments, and our relationships with the public and private institutions we worked with were vital in making this project come to fruition.  The Architectural Team, along with Taniya Nayak Design, will bring the design to life, integrating the character of Dorchester into the growing need for transit-oriented, urban development. Our goal is to accelerate Ashmont’s revitalization while maintaining a strong connection to the community whose involvement was so vitally important to getting this project underway.” 

The Treadmark development includes 51 affordable rental units and 32 homeownership condominiums. Four of the condominiums meet the requirements of the City of Boston’s Inclusionary Development Policy (80-100% of AMI), 16 units are affordable to individuals making up to 110% of AMI (workforce units) and the balance are market rate. The building also includes 5,000 square feet of ground floor neighborhood retail.

Investments in affordable housing developments and renovations reflect the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to ensuring that residents have access to affordable housing throughout Massachusetts. In May, the administration unveiled a 5-year Capital Budget plan that includes a $1.1 billion commitment to increasing housing production. This commitment represents an 18% funding increase for production and housing preservation for existing affordable units across the state.

Last fall, the Administration awarded $75 million in Affordable Housing Development awards that support the construction and preservation of 1500 housing units across the Commonwealth.

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito Issue Statements on Confirmation of Judge Frank Gaziano to Supreme Judicial Court

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito Issue Statements on Confirmation of Judge Frank Gaziano to Supreme Judicial Court

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito released the following statements on the Governor’s Council’s unanimous confirmation of Judge Frank Gaziano to the Supreme Judicial Court:

“I want to congratulate Judge Frank Gaziano on his unanimous confirmation to the Supreme Judicial Court, and look forward to the contributions his experience and tireless work ethic will bring to the Commonwealth’s highest court,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I thank the members of the Governor’s Council for their thoughtful deliberation and overwhelming approval of a highly qualified candidate like Judge Gaziano, and look forward to their future consideration of our remaining nominees.”
​

“The experience, character, and dedication Judge Frank Gaziano will bring to the Commonwealth’s Supreme Judicial Court ensures that the citizens of the Commonwealth will be served with tremendous justice and fairness,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “I am pleased to congratulate Judge Gaziano on his confirmation as an Associate Justice and thank the Governor’s Council for their consideration and their unanimous consent." 

Boston Children’s Museum Receives National Leadership Grant to Directly Support School Readiness through Partnerships

Boston Children’s Museum Receives National Leadership Grant to Directly Support School Readiness through Partnerships

Grant and Launch of New Website Enhance the Capacity of Museum and Library Educators to Support Children and Families

BOSTON, MA – July 12, 2016 – Boston Children’s Museum recently received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services dedicated for School Readiness through Partnerships: Museums, Libraries and State Early Learning Systems Project.  

This grant harnesses the collective power of museums, libraries, state early learning systems and other community organizations to directly support school readiness for children and especially those in underserved communities. The Collective Impact Framework will build upon the success of Boston Children’s Museum’s Race to the Top – Museums/Libraries Project, which effectively created a wide network connecting museums and libraries across Massachusetts. 

“We are thrilled to be able to continue the valuable work we have been doing with museums and libraries over the past four years,” said Carole Charnow, President & CEO. “This program allows us to leverage our decades of experience developing school readiness programs and resources for young children and to share our knowledge with thousands of families. We deeply thank our funders who have made this important work possible."

With the generous support of Institute of Museum and Library Services, the new School Readiness through Partnerships project will enhance the capacity of museum and library educators to support children and families through:

1) Convening of regional networks of museums, libraries, state early learning systems and other community‐based organizations
2) Coordinating with the regions to create a shared vision for informal learning opportunities through effective collaborations
3) Auditing of informal learning programs for quality and engagement
4) Informal review of family engagement practices
5) Assessing professional development opportunities for educators
6) Developing of new programs, resources and services based on needs articulated by the collaborative team

The Project will continue to strengthen the regional network in Massachusetts and, working with strategic partner, BUILD Initiative, expand the program to three additional states over three years.

“The importance of school readiness has been well documented, as has the need to invest in those efforts,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “IMLS has challenged libraries and museums to take a leading role in their communities’ early learning strategies. We are proud to support leaders like Boston Children’s Museum as they work on collective impact models that can be adapted for use across the country.” 

Boston Children’s Museum will work closely with the following partners to implement the project:‐ BUILD Initiative; working with early childhood leaders at the state level across the country to better prepare young children to thrive and succeed.‐ Imagination Playground; committed to creative free‐play supported by an engaged community of parents, educators, caregivers, researchers and leaders. Creators of large‐scale eponymous building blocks.‐ Goodman Research Group; evaluators with a long‐standing practice in evaluating the efficacy of programs at the state, regional and local levels.‐ Association for Children’s Museums; a clearinghouse for data and shared best practices for the children’s museum field internationally.

An expansion of the resources for families with preschool children includes a newly launched website with tools and additional information that increases the high quality and enriching experiences may be found at www.School-Readiness.org

About Boston Children's Museum
Boston Children’s Museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. More information about Boston Children’s Museum can be found at www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org. Become a fan of the Museum on Facebookand follow us on Twitter

Hours and Admission
The Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Fridays until 9:00 p.m. Adults, $16, children (1-15) and senior citizens, $16; children under 12 months and Museum members are always free. Fridays 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., all visitors $1.

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2.3 Million for Programs to Save Low-Income Residents Money on Energy Bills

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2.3 Million for Programs to Save Low-Income Residents Money on Energy Bills

BOSTON – July 11, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $2.3 million in funding to four organizations that will use clean and efficient energy technologies to lower energy bills for low-income residents and multi-family buildings across the Commonwealth. Part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s Affordable Access to Clean and Efficient Energy Initiative, the funding is expected to save residents and property owners $1.2 million annually on their energy bills.

“These grants will provide cost-saving opportunities to Massachusetts families and low-income residents who need it most,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is working to provide everyone in Massachusetts affordable access to the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency.” 

“Families across Massachusetts, regardless of income, should be able to save money and improve their environment through clean and efficient energy technologies,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This assistance will help the Massachusetts residents who are most affected by high energy costs, as well as support the Commonwealth’s growing clean energy industry.”

“The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to supporting programs that connect low- and moderate-income Massachusetts residents with technologies that use less energy and provide the benefits of healthier, more comfortable homes,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton. “These programs will also help reduce the Commonwealth’s greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.”

The funding, provided by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), will support:

·         Action, Inc. – Statewide - $900,000 – Funding for the installation of high-efficiency air-source heat pumps in for low-income residents living in single-family homes with electric baseboard heating. The heat pump installations will include comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades, including weatherization, lighting and appliance replacements.

·         New Ecology, Inc. –Statewide– $600,000 – Funding for the installation of heating and cooling monitoring equipment in approximately 100 low-income, multi-family buildings, with the goal of reducing energy costs by 5 to 20 percent.

·         Local Initiatives Support Corporation – Statewide – $600,000 – Funding for up to 30 comprehensive energy audits in affordable multi-family buildings approaching refinancing to demonstrate an integrated approach to systematically achieve deep energy efficiency savings and implement renewable technologies.

·         Cape Light Compact – Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard – $250,000 – Funding for the installation of solar electricity at low-income, single- and multi-family homes, using solar renewable energy credit (SREC) payments to fund additional installations.

“These programs will help lessen the burden for low-income residents across the Commonwealth who spend a disproportionate share of their income on energy bills,” said MassCEC Interim CEO Steve Pike.

Launched in February, the Baker-Polito Administration’s Affordable Access to Clean and Efficient Energy Initiative is focused on coordinating the agencies that serve the energy and housing needs of the Commonwealth’s low- and moderate-income residents and identifying the most effective strategies to direct funding. The initiative includes an inter-secretariat working group and a $15 million commitment from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and MassCEC for clean energy programs to expand opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

“Massachusetts is a national leader in energy efficiency, ranking first in the country the past five years,”said DOER Commissioner Judith Judson. “DOER is proud to work with our partners across state government to increase access to our innovative energy savings to all Massachusetts residents, regardless of income.”

“These investments are wins all around,” said State Senator Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield), Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. “They help hardworking families save a little bit, they help the environment by reducing energy demand and they help the state continue to lead the nation in energy efficiency.”

“Massachusetts is on the cutting edge in creating solutions that drive down our energy costs and shrink our carbon footprint,” stated State Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. (D-Lowell), House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities, and Energy. “Thanks to funding from the Baker Administration’s Affordable Access to Clean and Efficient Energy Initiative, these innovative measures will benefit low-income individuals and families in our communities.”

The grants are funded through MassCEC’s Renewable Energy Trust, which was created by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1998. The trust is funded by a systems benefit charge paid by electric customers of investor-owned utilities in the state, along with municipal electric departments that have opted to participate in the program. The average residential customer contributes 32 cents to the Renewable Energy Trust each month.

羅德島大學台灣院校暑期研習營今年擴為四校來訪

國立海洋大學同學會後合影。（經文處教育組提供）

(Boston Orange周菊子麻州整理報導)美國羅德島大學與臺灣大學院校合作辦理的「羅德島大學暑期研習營」，一年比一年受歡迎，今年共有4所學校派送近50人到訪。

元智大學同學會後合影。（經文處教育組提供）

創辦這暑期研習營的羅德島大學商學院副院長陳紹寬，機械，工業及系統工程系教授王志鴻指出，研習營在2013年第一年開辦時，東海大學派了10餘人來美，如今跨入第4個年頭，合作院校增至4所，陸續有國立雲林科技大學，以及今年的國立海洋大學及元智大學，學生人數增至將近50人，建立起的優良口碑，讓人很欣慰。

7月8日時，駐波士頓教育組組長黃薳玉特地在劍橋市常熟餐廳設宴，接待「羅德島大學暑期研習營」負責老師及及研習學生共60餘人。

雲林科技大學同學會後合影。（經文處教育組提供）

黃薳玉在席間指出，包括各項留學獎學金，以及學海築夢、學海飛颺等短期研習或實習補助計畫，教育部設立許多獎勵計畫，鼓勵學生走出舒適圈（comfort zone），勇敢的到海外留學，提升國際競爭力。希望座中同學充分利用，將來再到新英格蘭這美國學術重鎮留學。

陳紹寬及王志鴻表示，暑期研習營這合作計畫能有今日的成功與茁壯，全靠美國及臺灣兩地的學校高度配合。他們觀察到，參加研習同學到訪兩星期後，英語溝通能力大幅進步，也漸適應美國教學環境，敢於在課堂上發言，表達意見。

東海大學同學會後合影。（經文處教育組提供）

研習營同學表示，美國及臺灣的教學方式有很大差異，美國老師比較重視學生的回應，以及學生都學到什麼，給學生自信心的鼓勵他們嘗試錯誤。過去這兩週來，他們不但在課堂上學習美國的歷史文化，還實地參觀的欣賞美國獨立紀念日煙火，遊覽羅德島州著名的海岸豪宅。

在生活上，部分同學不太習慣美式食物，不過，羅德島大學提供的食宿環境很舒適，校方還貼心安排了3名大學部學生當助理，協助他們因應生活上的疑難雜症，甚至設計了幫助他們融入美國歷史文化的課後活動，更真切的體驗美國大學生活。（稿件內容由經文處教育組提供）

(前排左至右) 東海大學吳祉芸副教授、國立海洋大學胡家淇、東海大學謝曜宇、

元智大學胡郁如、羅德島大學教授王志鴻。(後排左至右)元智大學副教授Raymond Lin

、羅德島大學教授陳紹寬、波士頓經文處教育組組長黃薳玉、國立雲林科技大學謝明晉

等人合影。（經文處教育組提供）