Announcing the 9th Annual #DVcounts Census

Announcing the 9^th Annual #DVcounts Census

Report reveals gaps in domestic violence service provision, highlights successes

For the ninth consecutive year, the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) conducted its annual National Census of Domestic Violence Services on September 10, 2014 and today released their analysis of that data in the report:Domestic Violence Counts: A 24-hour Census of Domestic Violence Shelters and Services.

“According to the CDC, 10,773 babies are born each day in America,” said Kim Gandy, NNEDV President and CEO. “Contrasting this heartwarming number is the devastating 10,871 unmet requests for help, shelter, counseling, and services from victims in just one day across the United States. We can and must fund these local shelters and hotlines so they are not turning even one survivor away.”

In just one 24-hour period, local domestic violence programs across the country provided help and safety to 67,646 adults and children who were victims of domestic violence. Thanks to the tireless work of resourceful local programs, survivors were given a safe place to stay and resources and tools to escape violence and abuse.

Yet on the very same day, there were 10,871 requests for services that could not be met due to a lack of funding. The 2014 census report revealed that reduced funding for domestic violence services means that programs are unable to help survivors with shelter, attain legal help, or leave abusive partners.

The census was held on September 10, 2014, and collected information from almost 90 percent of the domestic violence programs from across the United States. Using data collected from these programs, the 2014 census report identifies needs that were met and unmet on September 10th and provides a snapshot of how budget cuts are affecting the staffing and resources of these organizations.

“This landmark report would not be possible without the support of local and state level-victim advocates, the Avon Foundation for Women, Google, Facebook, Verizon, and the Allstate Foundation,” said Gandy.

The report also chronicles harrowing stories of resilience and recovery from individual survivors. An advocate in Michigan shared this survivor’s experience, “A woman with two children entered our shelter after severe abuse by her husband. At one point her abuser poured transmission fluid on her and her toddler and threatened to ignite them with a lighter. She found safety and security at our shelter and is applying to enter our transitional housing program.”

These stories also highlight the importance of the frontline support and help that advocates provide to survivors every day. An Idaho advocate shared this story, “A survivor we worked with told us how grateful she was for meeting people who were knowledgeable, loving, and caring. She said she felt truly safe for the first time in more than a decade.”

Unfortunately, as a result of insufficient funding, programs were forced to cut over 1,300 staff positions in 2014. Most of these positions (76%) were direct service providers, such as shelter staff or legal advocates. This means that there were fewer advocates to answer calls for help or to provide needed services.

Learn more about the 2014 census here: http://nnedv.org/census

100% of domestic violence programs in Massachusetts participated in this one-day census. 

Debra J. Robbin, Executive Director of Jane Doe Inc., remarked on the release of this year’s data, “For nine years, the National Census of Domestic Violence Services has illuminated the vast demand for help and support by domestic violence victims and survivors here in Massachusetts and across the country.  100% of the domestic violence programs in Massachusetts participate in this 24-hour census because we appreciate that this snapshot tells an undeniable story of the daily struggle for safety and security by thousands of victims and survivors.  These local programs rely on support from and collaboration with private donors, volunteers and government agencies to meet the range of needs from housing and hotlines to counseling and legal advocacy.”

Highlights from Massachusetts:

1,795 Victims Served in One Day

·         855 domestic violence victims (427 children and 428 adults) found refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing provided by local domestic violence programs.

·         940 adults and children received non-residential assistance and services, including counseling, legal advocacy, and children’s support groups.

398 requests for services, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and non-residential services, could not be provided because programs did not have the resources to provide these services

Boston Public Market Vendors Graduate from Interise StreetWise ‘MBA’™ Program

Boston Public Market Vendors Graduate from Interise StreetWise ‘MBA’™ Program

Local food entrepreneurs at permanent, year-round market benefit from award-winning curriculum, local instructor

BOSTON — The owners of ten local food businesses, including seven vendors at the upcoming Boston Public Market, graduate today from Interise’s award-winning StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program focused on accelerating economic and small business growth in lower income communities. Since November, these local food entrepreneurs have received innovative business development with a program that covers topics such as strategic planning, access to capital, government contracts, financials, marketing and sales, and human resources. Participants will receive a certificate of small business entrepreneurship, granted in partnership with Boston University’s Entrepreneurial Management Institute, at a graduation ceremony today.

"My wife Nancy and I are extremely grateful and thankful for the opportunity to be part of the Interise StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program,” said Al Rose, co-owner of Red Apple Farm, a fourth-generation family farm in Phillipston, MA. “The occasion to remove one’s self from daily demands in order to strategically focus and reflect on the direction of one’s business is immeasurable and critical to the success of any business venture.  This carefully thought out curriculum and professionally led program helped us analyze and improve all aspects and areas of our business in a rewarding team environment!"

Interise is a Boston-based not-for-profit organization that builds the capacity of established small business owners with the management knowledge, business know-how, and relationships they need to scale. Unlike some small business development opportunities, participants in the StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program work on their own businesses rather than studying large corporations. Each participating business functions as their own live case study and lessons are instantly applied to their business to implement change. Each business develops a Strategic Growth Action Plan™ - a three-year plan designed throughout the program, outlining business goals and the specific action steps necessary to achieve them.

“Our vendors can’t stop talking about how helpful Interise’s program has been for their businesses,” said Liz Morningstar, CEO of the Boston Public Market, which opens in July. “We’re incredibly excited about the connections these local food producers are making with each other and throughout Boston’s growing entrepreneurial food economy.”

Interise’s StreetWise ‘MBA’™ curriculum is offered in 60+ communities across the nation. More than 3,000 businesses in the U.S. have completed the curriculum with significant results. According to Interise’s most recent impact report that tracks its businesses from 2011-2013, business owners who completed the program have an average increase in revenue of $480K and 43% of those companies have secured new contracts. Historically, Interise alumni create new jobs at five times the rate of the private sector as a whole, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  

“We are thrilled to learn that seven of tonight's graduating companies have been accepted to become vendors at Boston Public Market and are pleased that Interise’s StreetWise ‘MBA’™ was an integral ingredient in their recipe for continued success,” said Jean Horstman, CEO of Interise.

CommonWealth Kitchen, which operates Boston's only shared-use commercial kitchen and culinary business incubator, played a key role in advising on the curriculum and facilitating connections between market vendors and other Boston-area food businesses. CommonWealth Kitchen’s Pearl Food Production Small Business Center in Dorchester features a state-of-the-art shared-use commercial kitchen, large cold and frozen storage space, and a separate commissary where staff offer contract processing options to local farmers and market vendors.

“This class exemplifies the value of strategic collaboration,” said Jen Faigel, Executive Director at CommonWealth Kitchen. “We’ve been able to use our partnership with Interise and BPMA to connect invaluable business development resources to our members and graduates of our food business incubator, while building great new partnerships with folks that will be vending at the Public Market.”

In addition to gaining knowledge, participants in the StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program made valuable connections with their fellow market vendors, small food businesses from Commonwealth Kitchen, other business owners and experts. Working through similar business challenges with entrepreneurs like themselves removes that feeling of isolation and provides access to the resources, relationships, and structure needed to successfully scale their business.

"As an entrepreneur, you're in the thick of your business in every way, shape and form. It can be difficult, if not downright impossible, to see the big picture when you're solving small (or not-so-small!) issues throughout the day,” said Leigh Foster, co-owner of Nella Pasta, a Quincy-based pasta producer. “The StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program was an opportunity to step outside the day-to-day to see my business as a whole. Classes are a time to share ideas and fears with classmates and hear genuine advice. Homework forces you to remove yourself from the day-to-day and focus on big picture strategy, setting strategic goals and following through on them. It's funny how for the first time, you truly value the time dedicated to attending class and homework because it's completely for you and your business!”

Below is a list of today’s StreetWise ‘MBA’™ graduates. Boston Public Market vendors are marked with an asterisk, and CommonWealth Kitchen businesses are marked with a hashtag.

#Veronica Janssens (Batch – Boston, MA)

*Joe Langhan (Beantown Pastrami – Boston, MA)

#Liam Madden (Jubali – Boston, MA)

#Jason McCrea & Kate McCrea (McCrea’s Candies – Boston, MA)

*#Leigh Foster (Nella Pasta – Quincy, MA)

*Beth Quinn & Brian Quinn (Q’s Nuts – Somerville, MA)

*Al Rose & Nancy Rose (Red Apple Farm – Phillipston, MA)

*Barbara Rietscha (Stow Greenhouses, LLC – Stow, MA)

*Heather Schmidt & Josh Danoff (Union Square Donuts – Somerville, MA)

*Christina Barbieri & Luca Mignogna (Wolf Meadow Farm – Amesbury, MA)

###

The Boston Public Market will be a 28,000 square foot permanent, year-round, self-sustaining market that provides fresh local food to consumers from all income levels and nourishes our community. It will be a civic resource, educating the public about food sources, nutrition, and preparation.

At the market, farmers, fishermen, and food producers from Massachusetts and throughout New England will offer the public a year-round source of fresh local food and an opportunity to taste, buy, and understand what our region has to offer. The market will house over 35 vendors selling locally produced items such as farm-fresh produce, meat and poultry, eggs, milk and cheese, fish and shellfish, bread and baked goods, flowers, and an assortment of specialty and prepared foods. The Boston Public Market will be the only locally-sourced market of its kind in the United States.

For more information and to follow the progress of the market, visit us at www.bostonpublicmarket.org, or on Facebook (Facebook.com/BostonPublicMarket), Twitter (@BosPublicMarket), and Instagram (@BostonPublicMarket).

Mayor Walsh honors winners of Boston Living with Water competition during celebration at BSA Space

Mayor Walsh honors winners of Boston Living with Water competition during celebration at BSA Space

Over $50,000 in prizes awarded in recognition of innovative strategies that address sea level rise and climate change in Boston

BOSTON – The Boston Living with Water, an open international design competition launched in October 29, 2014, drew to a close on Monday, June 8th during a reception at BSA Space, Boston’s leading center for architecture and design. The competition sought design solutions envisioning a beautiful, vibrant, and resilient Boston that is prepared for end-of-the-century climate conditions and rising sea levels. Fifty teams composed of more than 340 individuals hailing from eight different countries participated in this two-stage competition.  Nine semi-finalists were selected earlier this spring, three for each of three sites. Teams included groups of academics, leading professionals, and large multi-office collaborations.  

After months of deliberation, the jury selected the winners based on each team’s ability to solve multiple challenges, including minimizing damage from chronic and episodic coastal flooding in three different sites: a building, a neighborhood, and a significant piece of city infrastructure.

Special guest, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the three outstanding winning teams. Funded by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and the Barr Foundation, each of the three main winners will receive a $13,000 prize. In addition, an honorable mention will receive $5,000.

“Competition ideas and strategies are already informing Boston’s future, including revisions to building plans and zoning codes, and influencing ‘Imagine Boston 2030’,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh, who led the Metro Mayor’s Coalition in signing the Climate Preparedness Commitment. “I congratulate all of the winners on their hard-earned achievements, and look forward to seeing what the future has in store for these designs.”

WINNERS PER SITE:

Site 1: Building–The Prince Building

WINNER: “Prince Building Piers” led by Stephanie Goldberg AIA & Mark Reed AIA, Boston.

Rather than trying to prevent seawater from entering the city, this proposal welcomes the water and repurposes the outer streetscapes to a new urban seashore that is a focus of recreation, ecological reclamation, and new cultural experiences.

Site 2: Neighborhood–The 100 Acres section of Fort Point Channel

WINNER: “ReDeBOSTON 2100” led by Architerra, Boston.

This proposal would raise the entire base and infrastructure of the 100-acre neighborhood by approximately twelve feet, matching the raised elevation of historic Summer Street and creating a resilient development area to serve as a model urban waterfront district for the 21st and 22nd centuries.

Site 3: Infrastructure–Morrissey Boulevard

WINNER: “Total Resilient Approach” led by Thetis S.p.A., Venice.

This proposal considers the transportation infrastructure as a flexible element aimed at performing a wide range of resilient functions.  Raising Morrissey Boulevard and improving its connections to the adjacent neighborhood present an opportunity to redevelop Columbia Point through an overall strategy based on habitat restoration and sustainable urban landscaping.

In addition, an HONORABLE MENTION was awarded to “Resilient Linkages” led by NBBJ, Boston.

This proposal attempts to balance the immediate pressure for development in Fort Point with the long-term understanding that the area will be prone to regular flooding in the future. The plan would establish a new, elevated street grid and require developers to integrate supportive infrastructure for sea level rise into their projects, which could then be linked to form fully-functional, neighborhood-scale infrastructure.

For more details visit, bostonlivingwithwater.org.

The winners’ work along with exhibition content related to coastal flooding will be on display in BSA Space through June 2015.  

Boston Living with Water is a partnership between the City of Boston, The Boston Harbor Association, the Boston Society of Architects, and the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Public programs related to the competition are produced by the BSA Foundation.

Mayor Honors Winners of 2015 Greenovate Awards, BPS Recycling Competition

MAYOR WALSH HOSTS GREENOVATE BOSTON COMMUNITY SUMMIT

Mayor Honors Winners of 2015 Greenovate Awards, BPS Recycling Competition

BOSTON – Saturday, June 6, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today hosted the Greenovate Boston Community Summit, which brought together residents, businesses, government officials and community organizations to celebrate Boston’s sustainability movement. Now in its second year, the Summit focused on how these groups can work together to implement the Climate Action Plan Update released earlier this year.

“The Community Summit is an exciting opportunity, not only to celebrate Boston’s sustainability accomplishments to date, but also to look forward at future challenges and how everyone of us can play a role in preparing our City for this changing climate,” said Mayor Walsh. “By working together, we can make Boston the most sustainable and climate-resilient city in the country.”

As part of the Summit, Mayor Walsh presented winners of the 2015 Greenovate Boston Awards and the Boston Public Schools Recycling Competition.

The Greenovate Boston Awards, now in their ninth year, recognize sustainability leadership across Boston in businesses, community organizations, non-profits, residents, and institutions. And the 2015 Greenovate Boston Award winners are:

Local Business Leaders:

• J&P Dry Cleaners
• High Ground Farm
• The Lenox Hotel

Community Leaderships:

• Fairmount/Indigo Line CDC Collaborative
• New England Aquarium
• The Boston Harbor Association
• Boston Public Schools Department of Early Childhood
• ScienceToGo.org
• Freight Farms/BLS Boston YouthCAN
• Boston Student Advisory Council

Greenovate Champions

• Dr. Burton Jaffe
• Elizabeth O’Day

The Boston Public Schools “Race to Recycle” competition is a three week recycling program that encourages recycling among BPS students and staff. By recycling materials from the classroom and cafeteria in a single stream, Boston schools hope to educate the community about the importance of recycling, decreasing the City’s greenhouse gas emission, and saving valuable natural resources. This year’s winners are: Curley K-8 for having the highest recycling diversion rate and biggest increase in recycling diversion rate over the 3-week competition; and Boston Green Academy for having the best recycle education plan to engage their students and staff on reduce, reuse and recycle.

“These awards celebrate local leaders who have made sustainability a priority,” said Austin Blackmon, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space. “We are grateful for their leadership and commitment in making Boston a greener and healthier place to work and live.”

The day-long Summit featured keynote speakers including Dean Cycon, founder of Dean’s Beans and Andy Brooks, founder of Bootstrap Compost, and a variety of interactive workshops, including two submitted and voted for by members of the Boston community. For the full agenda of the Summit, visit Summit.GreenovateBoston.org.

In January, Mayor Walsh released the Greenovate Boston 2014 Climate Action Plan Update, taking steps to prepare the City of Boston for the impacts of climate change and celebrating the City’s progress towards reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. By laying out the necessary steps to reduce the causes of and to prepare for climate change, the Climate Action Plan gives Greenovate Boston a framework for building a greener, healthier and more prosperous city. Visit http://greenovateboston.org for details.

Baker-Polito Administration Launches First Community Compact Applications

Baker-Polito Administration Launches First Community Compact Applications

Cities and towns pledge to implement best practices, eligible for state assistance and other incentives

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration launched the application process for the Community Compact, an opportunity for cities and towns to enter into partnerships with the state to accomplish mutually agreed upon goals. The Community Compact is the result of Governor Charlie Baker’s first Executive Ordersigned in January which created a cabinet to strengthen the Administration’s partnerships with cities and towns. An online portal will be available to local leaders that details the process, commitments, and incentives.

“We have traveled to every corner of the Commonwealth to meet with municipal leaders and learn more about the best ways to partner with our communities, and today we’re proud to launch this application process for the Community Compact,”said Lt. Governor Polito. “By promoting best practices and incentivizing our cities and towns, I look forward to championing this effort to create better opportunities for our schools and communities.”

The Community Compact will offer clear mutual standards, expectations, and accountability for both the state and municipalities as both partners seek to create better government for our citizens. 

COMMUNITY COMPACT PROCESS:

1       A municipal leader completes the application available at mass.gov/ccc where their city or town pledges to adopt one or more best practices. Municipalities may apply once during this round, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. As a partnership, the Commonwealth agrees to fulfill its own set of commitments. 

2       All applications are reviewed by the Division of Local Services within a month of submission.

3       Once approved, both the municipal leader (i.e. Mayor or Board of Selectmen Chair) and Lieutenant Governor Polito will sign the Community Compact.

4       The Commonwealth will provide technical assistance, as needed, to the municipality to develop or implement their chosen best practice(s). 

5       To reward those communities striving to become more innovative and accountable, the Commonwealth offers incentives through various state grants and programs. For example, the fifth annual round of the MassWorks Infrastructure Program is now open, and municipalities who have begun the process of signing a Community Compact will benefit on their MassWorks grant application.

More information on the compacts, obligations, incentives, and deadlines can be found on the FAQ page of the website.

About the Community Compact Cabinet:

Over the last four months, the Community Compact Cabinet—chaired by Lt. Governor Polito and comprised of the secretaries of Housing & Economic Development, Education, Transportation, and Energy & Environmental Affairs, the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Local Services, the Assistant Secretary of Operational Services, and the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth—developed, in consultation with cities and towns, the best practices included on the application. The Cabinet members have and will continue to champion municipal interests across all executive secretariats and agencies, helping state agencies be better partners with municipalities and better leveraging their resources for the benefit of communities across the Commonwealth.

State Police, MassDOT Announce Highway Safety Corridor Program; Enhanced Speed Enforcement

State Police, MassDOT Announce Highway Safety Corridor Program; Enhanced Speed Enforcement

BOSTON– Tuesday, June 9, 2015 – This week, The Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced the continuation of the new Highway Safety Corridor Program for I-495 and I-95 through the greater Foxboro area.  

The program posts public safety signs that read, “Highway Safety Corridor / Laws Strictly Enforced” at eight locations through the corridor.  In partnership with the State Police, additional patrols will be on hand to enforce speed limits, reduce aggressive driving and prevent distracted driving. 

This corridor has been selected because of the incidence of speeding and for driving-related crashes involving injuries and fatalities.  The shared goal of the State Police and MassDOT is to drastically reduce the number of crashes and to encourage motorists to drive safely and observe the posted speed limit. 

The program uses radar technology to calculate the average rate of speed through segments of I-495, and I-95 and will be used to deploy State Police patrols during times where the data show vehicle speeds above the posted limit.

The enforcement program is a $201,000 effort funded through the Highway Safety Improvement Program as a strategy to curb speeding and other moving violations under the Massachusetts Strategic Highway Safety Plan.  The program includes the purchase of the eightVariable Message Boards with radar.  The data collected from the radar will be used to measure the reduction of average vehicle speeds because of the additional State Police patrols.  In the future, the equipment will be deployed along other portions of state highway to establish additional Highway Safety Corridor campaigns.

The radar equipment does not have the capability to identify individual vehicles or drivers; the technology captures the average rate of speed of the whole corridor, which is used to determine the most effective periods for increased speed enforcement. 

MAYOR WALSH TO HOST TWITTER CHAT

MAYOR WALSH TO HOST TWITTER CHAT 

BOSTON—Mayor Martin J. Walsh will host a Twitter Chat to engage with constituents on Wednesday, June 10 at 3 p.m. Twitter users are welcome to submit questions and comments to the Mayor by using the hashtag #ASKMJW. 

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES RFP FOR IMAGINE BOSTON 2030 LEAD CONSULTANT AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES RFP FOR IMAGINE BOSTON 2030 LEAD CONSULTANT AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Seeking firms with experience in citywide planning to support initial phase of public engagement

BOSTON – Tuesday, June 9, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the release of a Request for Proposals for consulting services to support Imagine Boston 2030, an effort to create Boston’s first citywide plan in fifty years. The RFP calls for a lead consultant as well as public outreach and communications services. The ideal respondent will have experience managing citywide planning projects, including expertise in land use, urban design and comprehensive urban planning. A communications consultant will be tasked with advising on the extensive public engagement and outreach process that will take place over the next two years with residents and community members across the City of Boston.

More information about the RFP is available at Imagine.Boston.gov. Responses will be due no later than noon on July 20, 2015.

“This is the first step in a multi-year process of reimaging Boston and engaging with all residents across the City,” said Mayor Walsh. “Boston is a thriving, healthy and innovative city that can only get better. Through this RFP, we want to establish a partnership that will make work with the city and residents to make Boston stronger, more equitable and more accessible for all."

The RFP accurately reflects the multitude of planning efforts that are currently underway across city departments. The citywide plan generated through Imagine Boston will cover issues related to mobility, housing, land use, prosperity and equity, environment and adaptation, parks and open space, arts and culture, and public health.

Working with subject area experts, the lead consultant will coordinate the diverse, multi-disciplinary team spearheading Imagine Boston. The lead consultant will help the City of Boston define in greater detail the approach, scope and content required for a successful citywide plan. Drawing from experience supporting citywide planning efforts in other locales, the consultant is expected to bring energy, creativity and a breadth of knowledge to engage community members in envisioning the future of Boston while helping City staff meet planning milestones. The lead consultant will also be responsible for supporting the online presence for Imagine Boston. The RFP is deliberately open-ended with regard to specific tasks for the consultant so as to encourage a wide variety of approaches to accomplishing the goals described.

Mayor Walsh has challenged both citizens and city employees to embrace creative public engagement strategies that go beyond traditional community meetings. The outreach consultant will work with the Mayor’s Office, particularly the Chief of Civic Engagement, the Chief of Economic Development, the BRA and other City departments to reach constituents that would not ordinarily attend traditional community meetings. Hearing from non-English speaking populations, economically disadvantaged residents and young Bostonians will be a special priority. The Imagine Boston team hopes to break the mold of traditional neighborhood-focused meetings and plans by fostering a citywide conversation about Boston as a whole, not individualized among neighborhoods.

Before launching an outreach strategy, the City has already begun reaching out to residents to hear how they would like to participate in Imagine Boston 2030. Residents are asked to fill out a short survey, which will help the City and its consultant craft strategies for engagement throughout this process.  

The successful bidder may be a single firm or a lead consultant with one or more firms as sub-consultants. The City of Boston expects that additional consultants will eventually be added to the Imagine Boston team to address specific subject areas that are outside the expertise of the lead consultant.

Mayor Walsh launched Imagine Boston 2030 last month in a speech delivered at Faneuil Hall as part of the Innovative Design Alternatives Summit. Starting with an evaluation of baseline conditions, the City expects to begin a robust public visioning process this fall where community members will be able to contribute ideas to shape Boston’s future. A final citywide plan is expected to be adopted in Summer 2017. For more information on the RFP, click here.

BOSTON POPS JAZZ BAND TO PERFORM AT THE 10TH ANNUAL PICNIC IN THE PARK FUNDRAISER PRESENTED BY ACE TICKET

BOSTON POPS JAZZ BAND TO PERFORM AT THE 10^TH ANNUAL PICNIC IN THE PARK FUNDRAISER PRESENTED BY ACE TICKET

Red Sox Foundation Event Includes Autograph Session

with Players and Unique Auction Items;

Picnic to be Held Post-game on Sunday, August 2, at Fenway Park

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Pops Jazz Band, featuring Stan Strickland, is set to perform at the 2015 Picnic in the Park, presented by Ace Ticket. 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 and Red Sox Foundation RBI programs. Tickets for the event are available now onredsox.com/picnic.

This fan-friendly event, which will be held one hour after the conclusion of the 1:35 p.m. Red Sox-Rays game on Sunday, August 2, allows fans to enjoy a BBQ picnic on the field at Fenway Park, a chance to get autographs from current Red Sox players, as well as the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind experiences donated by the Red Sox players and their wives during a live auction.

The Master of Ceremonies for the event is award winning actor and comedian, Mike O’Malley.

General Admission Picnic tickets are $325.00 per person and include a new blanket in a gift bag, provided by Home Goods, dinner on Fenway Park’s outfield, access to the player autograph session, and entertainment.

MVP tickets are available at $475.00 per person, and include one bleacher ticket to the Red Sox-Rays game on Sunday, August 2, prior to the picnic, as well as a baseball signed by a Red Sox legend, an opportunity to take a photo with the three World Series trophies, and an automatic entry into a raffle with prizes. 

In addition to Ace Ticket, sponsors for this year’s event are Aramark, Bank of America, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, the Boston Bruins Foundation, Steiner Sports, the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, Custom Cable, Foundation to be Named Later, and Gilbane Construction.

General admission tickets to the Picnic in the Park are separate from game tickets and can be purchased by visiting www.redsox/picnic or by calling 617-226-6002. More information is available atwww.redsoxfoundation.org or by emailing picnic@redsox.com.

MassDOT Reminds Drivers of Toll Amnesty for Tobin Bridge Pay-By-Plate Fines for the Month of June

MassDOT Reminds Drivers of Toll Amnesty for Tobin Bridge Pay-By-Plate Fines for the Month of June

BOSTON – Monday, June 8, 2015 – MassDOT is reminding customers of the changes to the fine structure to the all-electronic, Pay-By-Plate, toll collection system on the Tobin Bridge.  The 30-day amnesty program that started Monday, June 1, is in place so that drivers can simply pay the amount of outstanding tolls and have all late payment fines waived.  Both the new fine structure and the 30-day toll amnesty apply exclusively to the Tobin Bridge. 

The Tobin Bridge’s All-Electronic Tolling system was activated on July 21, 2014, and eliminated the need to pay tolls in cash.  The system employs a dual technology that detects E-ZPass transponders, or for vehicles without transponders, captures an image of the registration plate and sends an invoice to the address listed on the vehicle registration.

Known as Pay-By-Plate, vehicles without transponders that cross the Tobin Bridge are mailed invoices and reminder notices based on a monthly billing cycle.  Subsequent reminder invoices and notices of non-payment are accompanied by a fine structure that was modeled after the structure that has been in place on the Turnpike since 2000.

Under the new structure for the Tobin Bridge, fines will be assessed according to the following:

·       A $1 late fee will be added to every unpaid Pay-By-Plate toll after an invoice goes unpaid for 30 days;

·       An additional $1 will be added to each toll transaction after 60 days of non-payment, and another $1 after 90 days;

·       Under the maximum fines allowed, each unpaid Tobin Bridge toll transaction will be capped at $6; also at that time, the vehicle owner’s driver’s license and vehicle registration will be placed in a non-renew status, until the toll balance and fines are resolved.  Also at this stage, there is an additional $20 fee to remove the hold on driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals. 

Additionally, for the month of June MassDOT is offering a toll amnesty program, whereby Tobin Bridge Pay-By-Plate customers with outstanding balances have the opportunity to pay tolls only in full, with all fines waived dating back to July 21, 2014.  The 30-day amnesty also includes the suspension of the $20 fee to remove the hold on registration and driver’s license renewals. 

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Announce Official Opening of Dana-Farber’s Molecular Cancer Imaging Facility

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Announce Official Opening of Dana-Farber’s Molecular Cancer Imaging Facility

Boston, MA – The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) today celebrated the official opening of Dana-Farber’s Molecular Cancer Imaging Facility in Boston’s Innovation District.

The laboratory focuses on making chemical tracers that “light up” cancer cells and molecular pathways, a technology for research on improving cancer diagnosis and developing precision drugs matched to individual patients.

“The capital investments made by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center in the research capacity of hospitals and academic institutions across the Commonwealth have been crucial to our growing global leadership in the life sciences,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We congratulate Dana-Farber on the grand opening of its Molecular Cancer Imaging Facility and look forward to seeing the life-saving treatments and therapies that will come from their state-of-the-art research.”

The Molecular Cancer Imaging Facility (MCIF) includes a cyclotron for making short-lived molecular imaging probes that are tracked by PET scanners. The process is key to evaluating experimental drugs and showing whether they hit vulnerable targets within cancer cells.

“Molecular imaging is a cornerstone of the new era of personalized medicine,” said Dana-Farber President and CEO Edward J. Benz Jr., MD. “Our new facility will provide a comprehensive platform for determining drug efficacy within days, instead of weeks or months, shortening the time it takes for new drugs to reach patients.”

Barrett Rollins, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Dana-Farber, said, “The MCIF cyclotron – the only one in Massachusetts dedicated entirely to cancer research – will allow our scientists to create the tools needed to identify the precise molecular and genetic abnormalities that drive cancer.”

Construction of the facility at Dana-Farber’s Harbor Campus in South Boston’s Innovation District was made possible through a $10 million grant from the MLSC, a state-funded investment agency that supports life sciences innovation, research, development and commercialization. The MLSC is charged with implementing the state’s 10-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative.

“This facility will save lives by accelerating Dana-Farber’s groundbreaking work in the development of personalized cancer therapies,” said Angus McQuilken, MLSC Vice President for Communications & Marketing.  “The project is a great example of the goals of our capital program, as this new facility will serve as a unique resource that will strengthen Massachusetts’ position as the global leader in life sciences innovation.”

The new 50,000 square foot facility is adjacent to the Dana-Farber’s Lurie Family Imaging Center (LFIC). The construction and initial operation of the facility have created jobs for nearly 60 people.

A GE cyclotron has been installed on the first floor of the facility. A cyclotron whirls beams of charged particles at extremely high speeds in a spiral-shaped machine the size of a small car.  The particle beams can be used to bombard atoms of different types to produce radioisotopes that are detected by PET scanners. The new cyclotron will produce isotopes including oxygen-15, carbon-11, nitrogen-13 and fluorine-18.  Locating the cyclotron adjacent to the Lurie Family Imaging Center is essential because the probes become unusable in a matter of minutes.

“This new facility will strengthen the Innovation District’s status as a hotbed of innovation in the life sciences, and will allow Boston to continue to lead the way in finding cures and improved, personalized cancer therapies,” said Dr. Huy Nguyen, Interim Executive Director and Medical Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “The important research that that will come from Dana Farber will not only benefit the people of Boston, but the global community as well.”

In addition to the space being renovated at the Harbor Campus, the MCIF also occupies 6,000 square feet of cold chemistry and support space in the Longwood Center, which is adjacent to Dana-Farber’s Longwood campus.