Baker-Polito Administration Announces $7.75 Million to Support Upgrades, Research at UMass Cranberry Station

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $7.75 Million to Support Upgrades, Research at UMass Cranberry Station

BOSTON—The Baker Polito Administration today announced $7.75 million in funding to support infrastructure upgrades, including the design, construction, retrofitting and outfitting of enhanced laboratory space, at the UMass Cranberry Station located in Wareham. The research supported by this funding will help Massachusetts’ cranberry industry continue to thrive as an important sector of the agricultural economy in the Commonwealth.

“Cranberries are one of Massachusetts’ signature agricultural products, and this funding will support vital research that ensures the cranberry industry will remain a thriving and sustainable sector in the Commonwealth for generations to come,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The infrastructure improvements made possible through this funding will enhance the research capacity of the Cranberry Station and provide an essential base of knowledge that will help the cranberry industry adjust to the impacts of climate change and remain an economic driver for Southeastern Massachusetts.”

“The research made possible through these important upgrades to the Cranberry Station’s lab capacity will provide significant benefits to this historic sector of Massachusetts’ agricultural economy,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “As the cranberry industry continues to work to increase the sustainability of production while adjusting to a changing climate, this research will lead to important strategies for water conservation and pest control.”

The funding, which includes $5.75 million in capital spending authorized in Governor Baker’s 2018 Environmental Bond Bill, will be used by the Cranberry Station to modernize and expand its research facilities, improve the environmental profile of the facility, and provide the research tools needed to support vigorous research programs in cranberry water, pest, and nutrient management. These funds will be backed by a $2 million commitment from the University of Massachusetts Amherst for existing deferred maintenance needs at the facility.

“Massachusetts’ cranberry industry has been harvesting this landmark crop in the Commonwealth for over 200 years, and this enhanced research capacity will help it increase its sustainability and position it for long-term success,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Water resource management is critical to sustainable production, and the research supported through this funding will help to improve water quality and reduce the amount of water needed for cranberry production.”

Upgrades to the laboratory facilities at the Cranberry Station will include:

• Retrofitting the basement level of the lab building as usable workspace, including installing partitions and upgrading HVAC systems to provide exchange air to meet workspace code requirements
• Repairing and renovating on the main level of the lab and administration buildings
• Upgrading telecommunications and technology assets
• Acquiring research equipment and software for water, nutrient, and pest management laboratory and field research programs 
• Constructing multi-use outbuilding facilities, including storage, a growth chamber space, a field preparation laboratory, and student housing
• Improving equipment and infrastructure for demonstration, including a cranberry bog for research 
• Purchasing new vehicles to support field research 

This infrastructure will support research on water quality and quantity, integrated pest management, pollinator health, and the minimization of nutrient and pesticide use to reduce environmental impacts and enhance the sustainability of cranberry production the Commonwealth.

“The work that will be done as a result of this funding will lead to more efficient production and reduce environmental impacts while meeting the needs of Massachusetts’ cranberry producers,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “We are pleased to support the Cranberry Station and the Commonwealth’s historic cranberry industry as part of these important research initiatives.”

Massachusetts’ cranberry industry, through crop production, processing and manufacturing, is a major sector of the state’s agriculture economy, and increasing the efficiency of water use in cranberry production is key to conserving water, while minimizing off-target movement of nutrients and pesticides will help to preserve water quality and ensuring the sustainability of cranberry production in the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts is the oldest cranberry growing region in the country. Today, there are approximately 13,300 acres of commercial cranberry bogs in the state, primarily in Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable counties. In 2019, the total value of utilized Massachusetts cranberry production was approximately $64.8 million.

  

“From agriculture to life sciences to advanced manufacturing and everywhere in between, the research mission of the University of Massachusetts is essential to the Commonwealth’s economy,” said UMass President Martin T. Meehan.  “We are thrilled at the support shown for that mission by Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and we couldn’t play our critical role in the Innovation Economy without support from the Legislature. We are also grateful to Chairman Michael Rodrigues and Chairman Bill Straus for helping secure these capital funds.” 

“As the original Massachusetts Agricultural College and the Commonwealth’s land grant institution, UMass Amherst is proud of the research and extension work conducted at the Cranberry Station,” said UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy. “We are grateful to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and their teams, as well as Senator Michael Rodrigues and Representative Bill Straus, for all their efforts in helping to secure the release of these funds. They will substantially enhance our research capacities for this important economic staple of the Commonwealth.”

In June 2017, the Massachusetts Cranberry Revitalization Task Force released its final report with recommendations to preserve and strengthen Massachusetts’ cranberry industry. Among its findings, the Task Force recommended funding infrastructure upgrades at the UMass Cranberry Station to support research and outreach focused on the industry’s barriers to sustainability.

The UMass Cranberry Station has conducted critical research and provided practical applications for cranberry growers in the Commonwealth since 1910. The Station’s research and outreach programs are focused on water, nutrient, and pest management specializing in integrated studies of water conservation, water quality, and low risk pest control agents.

“This funding will allow the Cranberry Station, and through it our region’s agricultural sector, to remain at the cutting edge of cranberry research, as it has for over one hundred years,” said State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.  “Cranberries are a vital part of our economy, and I applaud the Baker-Polito Administration, specifically Secretary Heffernan and Secretary Theoharides, for their support and Chancellor Subbaswamy for his ongoing efforts to make sure UMass Amherst remains a steadfast partner as we work collaboratively to ensure this critical industry will continue to thrive and remain competitive for decades to come.”

“The cranberry industry is an essential part of our region as well as the Commonwealth,” said State Representative Susan Gifford (R-Wareham). “This funding is welcome news and will keep the industry moving forward in the midst of numerous challenges.”

“Cranberry production remains an important part of our regional economy, and these improvements will support the innovation needed for our bogs to remain competitive,” said State Representative Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett). “I want to thank Governor Baker for making local agriculture a clear priority.”  

“For over 100 years, the UMass Cranberry Station has been a critical component of the Massachusetts cranberry industry, providing invaluable horticultural and environmental research that has enabled our growers to continually raise crops in the most environmentally and economically sound manner possible,” said Brian Wick, Executive Director of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association. “We are so thankful, and quite honestly ecstatic, for the Commonwealth’s funding support today of the Cranberry Station and our industry, which will help keep our growers on the cutting edge of cranberry farming for decades to come.”

8/29, 30 麻州放稅假 查理貝克籲民眾支持" My Local MA"

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)宣佈八月底放稅假，籲民眾支持
mylocalma.com。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange編譯)麻州的新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)疫情，8月25日確診個案新增349，累計116,770，新增死亡人數12，累計8,729。

             麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)表示，從州政府持續觀察的關鍵指數來看，疫情持續趨緩，是好消息，但希望民眾保持警覺，繼續戴口罩，保持安全社交距離，維持勤洗手等衛生習慣。

麻州政府官員表示，以7天的平均確診率來說，目前維持在1.1%左右。今日又有22,774人做了檢測。全麻州做過檢測的個人，已達160萬人之多。做抗體檢測的人數也增加了397，累計達到109,535。

麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)鼓勵民眾支持地方企業。(周菊子攝)

查理貝克表示，目前州政府的關注焦點在大專院校的重新開放，以及幼稚園到高中12年級學校的重新開放，無論是遠距上課，或者回校上課，都是麻州面對的大問題。州政府估計，今秋大概只會有一半的學生回到麻州來上課。

麻州州長查理貝克和副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)今日中午一塊到訪貝爾蒙鎮(Belmont)的WheelWorks公司做疫情匯報，藉以鼓勵州內企業的恢復營運。

查理貝克和白莉朵還宣佈推出”我的在地麻州(My Local MA”活動，鼓勵麻州居民在地消費，支持在2019年內聘用了大約150萬人，佔麻州總人力約45%的地方小企業，以刺激，帶動麻州的經濟活力。

查理貝克還宣佈，今年的”稅假(Tax Holiday)”訂在8月29日及30日，希望大家無論是上網，或是到實體店去採購，都儘量支持各自所居住市鎮的小企業。

新英格蘭台灣商會等14僑團歡迎孫儉元，潘昭榮

新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長李以蕙(右上)介紹會務。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導)波士頓僑界和駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，波士頓華僑文教中心主任潘昭榮這兩名新人的線上，線下系列見面會，日前在新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會發起，共14個僑團參與，不下40餘人出席中，告一段落。

波士頓經文處處長夫婦，孫儉元、倪雪娥。(周菊子攝)

               駐波士頓經文處的孫儉元處長7月28日到任，潘昭榮主任7月13日抵埠。往年經文處長官到任時，波士頓僑界會在餐館舉辦大型歡迎會，今年礙於新型冠狀病毒疫情，沒法這麼做，於是波士頓台灣影展協會，紐英崙客家鄉親會，新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會等發起了以Zoom，WebEx之類軟體舉辦的視頻歡迎會，反倒讓郊區各僑團有機會進一步介紹自己。

               傳統僑社部分，則是由潘昭榮主任出面連繫，於8月15，16兩日，親自上門拜會了主要分佈在波士頓華埠泰勒街，夏利臣街，必珠街，好事福街等地的12個僑團。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮。(周菊子攝)

               新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長李以蕙發起的這場歡迎會，在她本人是慈濟功德會波士頓聯絡處師姐，台大校友，副會長黃千姬是亞裔婦女健康會創辦人，前任會長歐陽露是現任波士頓急難關懷救助會會長，理事王志維是竹蜻蜓壘球聯盟創辦人，今年又接手主辦大波士頓中華文化協會青少年中文夏令營，莊保羅是前任台大校友會會長，林思妤是台灣世衛外交協會的波士頓負責人等因緣下，這場聚會就衍變成至少有14個僑團代表的見面會。

佛教慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處長金滿(右下)。

               台灣佛教慈濟基金會的波士頓聯絡處召集人長金滿，慈濟人文學校彭淑敏，勒星頓中文學校校長陳伯淯，副校長康麗雪，璞石中華文化工作室會長馮文鸞，副會長謝如鍵，理事路永宜，許淑芬等人分別說明各自的機構，組織概況，請經文處支援。馮文鸞特地指出，該工作室人才濟濟，連王月娥，陳燕貞等多名前任中文學校校長，都是他們的理事。她和康麗雪還開玩笑的拉關係，說她們都是彰化人，可以和處長夫人組織同鄉會。麻州西部台灣鄉親也有鍾淑娟出面，邀請新處長別忘了到麻州西部走走。

勒星頓中文學校。(周菊子攝)

新英格蘭中文學校協會會長黃冠群則指，勒星頓中文學校每年一度的滑雪活動，經文處處長都照例參加，前處長徐佑典還為他們表演吉他自彈自唱，希望新處長也不要忘記準備節目。

新格蘭台灣青年商會由前會長歐怡君代表發言。她說明該會以協助會員創業，鼓勵會員當志工，協助其他社團辦活動為主要宗旨，除了”A Pitch Day”這創業比賽年度活動外，礙於疫情停辦的每月講座，預定下月先從網上開始恢復辦理。

波士頓台大校友會。

新英格蘭台商會會長李以蕙在活動中介紹了該會理事陳家驊，蔡明機，王本仁，許炳煌等人，說明該會每年都辦至少6項活動，今年的一大目標是增加年輕理事，以推動傳承。當天會議的主持人莊保羅及林思妤，就是年輕一代的代表。

當天參加的還有台大，政大，師大三個校友會。其中政大校友迄今僅陳家驊，康韶和等人數有限，但由於甫離任的徐佑典，新到任的孫儉元這兩位處長都是政大校友，於是成立政大校友會又有了新呼聲。

亞裔婦女聯盟。

新英格蘭台灣青年商會。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $750,000 Seed Fund Investments for Three Worcester-Based Life Sciences Companies

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center awards three separate investments of $250,000 convertible notes to early-stage life sciences companies

Worcester— Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $750,000 in funding for three Worcester-based early-stage, life sciences companies. The funding, awarded through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s (MLSC) Seed Fund, comes in the form of three separate investments of $250,000 convertible notes. Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito announced the funding at a virtual ribbon cutting ceremony for the expansion of the Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, where two of three awardee companies are located.

“These investments build on our administration’s commitment to ensuring that businesses and communities across the Commonwealth grow and share in the benefits of our thriving life sciences sector,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are proud to fund strategic assets like the Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives facilities in Worcester, which are supporting advances in human health, accelerating innovation and expanding opportunity.”

“Support for entrepreneurs and startups is essential to the health and vitality of our innovation economy, especially as we look towards recovery,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Housing & Economic Development Mike Kennealy, who also serves as Co-Chair of the MLSC’s Board of Directors. “While other states are focused solely on keeping their major metropolitan areas thriving, our Commonwealth’s distinct advantage remains being able to leverage the people, places, and partnerships to look beyond Greater Boston and build out regional clusters of innovation to support important sectors like the life sciences in Worcester.”

“The Baker-Polito Administration is continuing to invest in the Massachusetts innovation economy and support the entrepreneurs and early-stage companies who are helping to drive advancements,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan, who also serves as MLSC Board Co-Chair. “The entrepreneurial and investment communities continue to find opportunity across our Commonwealth, spurring job creation and game-changing technological and scientific breakthroughs.”

Awardees of the MLSC’s Seed Fund include:

149 Medical: Company developing the first non-invasive medical device able to measure real-time brain hemodynamics in preterm newborns. The device aims to predict and then prevent the onset of brain damage in preterm infants, by providing early, actionable alerts and continuous feedback for early intervention and treatment monitoring. Follow on indications to include ischemic stroke, Alzheimer’s, concussions, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). 

iVexSol: Burgeoning startup founded on a transformative next generation manufacturing technology that revolutionizes the production of lentiviral vectors (LVVs). Vectors are molecular tools that deliver genetic material into living cells to modify their biology and/or behavior, and in doing so, provide life-changing therapeutic benefits to patients. While LVVs have an outstanding safety and therapeutic record, the limited number of clinical-grade LVV manufacturers combined with the severe limitations of current production techniques has resulted in long wait times for production slots, high manufacturing costs and severe shortages for even the raw materials used to manufacture viral vectors. iVexSol’s proprietary methodology promises to lower costs and provide a robust supply of vector for CGT researchers and manufacturers, which in turn will shorten clinical development timelines and increase access for patients waiting to receive these life-changing treatments.

Nutrimedy: Digital tele-therapeutics startup that is focused on the next generation of evidence-based clinical nutrition. By automating existing medical nutrition therapy (MNT) workflows, Nutrimedy is giving patients who require complex dietary modifications a real-time superpower so can they easily answer the question “Can I eat this?” As a B2B solution, Nutrimedy partners with providers, biotech, medtech, and health insurance organizations to improve patient access to expert nutrition care. Nutrimedy is specifically designed for healthcare settings and is already being utilized in areas such as IBD, short bowel syndrome, oncology, and end-stage renal disease.

“A key measure of success for the Center and our partners is creating targeted opportunities for the investment community to follow the MLSC’s lead and exponentially increase the amount of risk capital invested in these regions,” said MLSC Interim President & CEO Damon Cox. “Many regions in Massachusetts are already home to a verdant presence of major research universities, medical centers, and incubators. We are strong believers that we must collectively work together to match the presence of these stellar anchor institutions with opportunities for early-stage funding that can too often be concentrated within the Greater Boston area.”

The MLSC’s Seed Fund supports the development of innovative, promising life sciences start-ups in targeted geographies across Massachusetts. With an initial focus on Lowell, Worcester, Springfield, Amherst, and Pittsfield, the MLSC has now also expanded the program to Beverly, Mansfield, and North Adams.

“New ideas come to mind anywhere, and not at any particular time, but innovative startups need fertile ground and support to develop these ideas into striving enterprises that benefit the commonwealth,” said Rustam Yukhananov, who serves as one of the founders and president of the Mansfield Bio-Incubator. The incubator is a recent recipient of MLSC capital funding and is in the process of doubling its laboratory space by the end of 2021 with plans to develop its entire 64 acres as a biotech campus. “Life science companies need the sophisticated infrastructure of laboratories, specialized suppliers, service providers, and investors with high-risk tolerance. The Massachusetts Life Science Center expands all these conditions beyond Kendall Square to other towns in Massachusetts by providing seed grants for life science startups. We are glad that the members of the Mansfield Bio-Incubator now have access to seed funding provided by MLSC.”

“The importance of supporting a robust entrepreneurial community in Western Massachusetts cannot be understated,” said Lever Head of Innovation Brent Filson. “Successful startups accelerate economic growth by creating quality jobs and pulling capital and revenues to our region. An essential element to growing our entrepreneurial ecosystem is access to seed funding, which is why we are thrilled about MLSC’s new Seed Fund program and its focus on Western Massachusetts.”

“With its diversely talented local population, affordable commercial facilities, and robust science and technology community, the North Shore is a very attractive place to locate life science firms of all sizes,” said Cummings Properties president Eric Anderson. “In addition to working with many large national and multinational corporations, we have a reputation for working with entrepreneurs and startups. Experience has shown that by working closely with the founders of these firms through the various stages of their growth, we are often able to forge strong relationships that help keep the companies local, frequently within the same community where they started. Given the strength of Massachusetts’ life science industry, Cummings continues to develop new lab-ready space in Beverly at a time when so many property developers are scaling back on building projects.”

On a rolling basis, companies are able to apply for up to $250,000 convertible notes to support novel innovations in all life sciences sectors, including Diagnostics, Digital Health/Bioinformatics, Medical Devices, MedTech, and Therapeutics. Early-stage life science companies that have yet to raise their first priced round are strongly encouraged to apply for this program. In 2018, the MLSC applied for and received a $300,000 federal grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the launch, scale, and formation of this cluster-focused seed fund. The MLSC’s Board of Directors authorized a matching $300,000 from the Center’s Investment Fund to support operational costs of the Seed Fund.

麻州領失業金者 8月可額外多領900元

             (Boston Orange編譯)在8月1日，9日，15日這3週有資格領失業救濟金的人，將可每週多領300元。麻州政府24日宣佈，聯邦政府緊急管理局(FEMA)已批准補助申請，麻州失業援助部將在電腦系統調整後發放。

             在國會未能展延3月27日起實施的CARES法案，每週額外增發600元失業福利後，川普總統在本月初命令聯邦緊急管理局發440億元給各州救急。

             川普的命令起初是要求一週增發400元，其中100元預定由各州自行籌資支付，但許多州現金拮据，無法負擔這100元，條款因而改變。上個月在全美失業率榜單上排名第一的麻州，被迫向美國財政部借了10億元來派發傳統的麻州失業福利。六月份時發出的失業福利金，額度平均為每週425元。

             美國約有2800萬人在七月份錢發光之前，收到了每週600元的額外失業補助。

            麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)曾表示他不喜歡川普總統這一方法，但說明，如果方案推出了，麻州也不會拒絕的不申請。

             包括新罕布夏州(NH)，羅德島州(RI)，佛蒙特州(VT)，至少有29州已獲批准，可從聯邦緊急管理局(FEMA)那兒領三週資金。至於有沒足夠的錢繼續發，目前不得而知。

Massachusetts Approved For Lost Wages Assistance Grant

BOSTON, MA — Commonwealth Receiving 3 Weeks of Federal FEMA Funds to Pay Additional $300 Unemployment Benefits

Massachusetts’ application to receive grant funding to pay an additional weekly unemployment benefit to claimants under the federal Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance (LWA) program has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The application was submitted late last week by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), in coordination with the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

Per FEMA’s authorization, the grant will fund an additional $300 weekly payment to those who are eligible for the three weeks ending 8/1/20, 8/8/20, and 8/15/20. The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance has already begun work on the technology requirements necessary for this program and anticipates being able to quickly deliver retroactive funds to eligible claimants in the coming weeks. Most claimants currently receiving benefits do not need to take any action because the Commonwealth will automatically add LWA to their weekly benefit payment retroactive to the dates they are eligible.

麻州疫情持續趨緩 州政府要求學生打預防針

               (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導)麻州上週末更新COVID-19報告系統，今(24)日匯整，新增確診個案571，累計116,421，新增死亡個案27，累計8,717。不過民眾不必緊張，這是累計8月21到23日，共檢測37,815人之後的數據。

               根據麻州公共衛生廳(DPH)，麻州目前有308人因為新型冠狀病毒住院，其中62人住在重症病房。7天平均的感染率已下降至1.1%。

               上週末，麻州公共衛生廳已宣佈，年紀大於6個月，上托兒所或幼稚園的兒童，一直到上小學，中學，以及大專院校學生，都必須打預防針，期以減少因為流感住院的人數，好讓醫護人員可以專心照顧新型冠狀病毒病人。除非因為醫藥或宗教原因可以豁免者，所有學生都必須在12月31日前打預防針，以預防2020-2021的流感季節。

               根據美國疾病防治中心(CDC)，截至周一，今日，全美確診個案總數已達5,682,491宗，累計死亡人數也已高達176,223。紐約時報指麻州是過去2週來，新案例數下降的25州之一。個案數上升的州有處女島，北達科達(North Dakota)，關島(Guam)，以及艾俄華州(Iowa)。

EARLY VOTING FOR STATE PRIMARY BEGINS TODAY IN BOSTON

EARLY VOTING FOR STATE PRIMARY BEGINS TODAY IN BOSTON  Today is also the last day to register to vote in the State Primary BOSTON - Saturday, August 22, 2020 - Ahead of the September 1 State Primary, the City of Boston Election Department is reminding registered voters that a week of early voting begins today in Boston at locations around the City. The election includes the following races: Senator in Congress, Representative in Congress, Governor's Councillors, Senator in General Court, Representative in General Court, and Register of Probate. Boston City Hall is the main early voting location with early voting from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Voters are encouraged to enter City Hall through the North Side entrance to vote on the second floor in the Haymarket Room.  EARLY VOTING Due to COVID-19, health and safety protocols during the early voting period and on Election Day will be implemented at polling locations. All poll workers will receive face shields, face masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, disinfectant spray and hand sanitizer. Cleaning will take place at each site every two to three hours. Voters waiting in line will be instructed to stand six feet away from others and wear a face covering.  Voters registered in Boston can vote during the early voting period from Saturday, August 22, through Friday, August 28, 2020, at any of the early voting sites. No excuse is required to vote early. Hours and locations for early voting can be found here. Saturday, August 22, 2020 Sunday, August 23, 2020 Monday, August 24, 2020 Tuesday, August 25, 2020 Wednesday, August 26, 2020 Thursday, August 27, 2020 Friday, August 28, 2020 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. City Hall 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. City Hall 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. East Boston High School Gymnasium 86 White Street, East Boston, MA 02128 East Boston High School Gymnasium 86 White Street, East Boston, MA 02128 Boston City Hall 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201 Boston City Hall 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201 Boston City Hall 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201 Boston City Hall 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201 Boston City Hall 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201 James F. Condon School Cafeteria 200 D Street, South Boston, MA 02127 James F. Condon School Cafeteria 200 D Street, South Boston, MA 02127 The sites below 12:00pm - 8:00pm The sites below 12:00pm - 8:00pm Richard J. Murphy School Cafeteria 1 Worrell Street, Dorchester, MA 02122 Richard J. Murphy School Cafeteria 1 Worrell Street, Dorchester, MA 02122 Harvard-Kent Elementary School 50 Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown, MA 02129 BCYF Perkins Community Center/ Lee School Gymnasium 155 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124 Thelma Burns Building 575 Warren Street, Boston, MA 02121 Thelma Burns Building 575 Warren Street, Boston, MA 02121 Dewitt Center 122 Dewitt Drive, Roxbury, MA 02120 Mildred Avenue School Gymnasium 5 Mildred Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126 Another Course To College Cafeteria 612 Metropolitan Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136 Another Course To College Cafeteria 612 Metropolitan Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136 BCYF Tobin Community Center (Community Room) 1481 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120 Saint Nectarios Greek Church Banquet Hall 39 Belgrade Avenue, Roslindale, MA 02131 Roche Community Center Gymnasium 1716 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 Roche Community Center Gymnasium 1716 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 Honan - Allston Branch Library (Community Room) 300 North Harvard Street, Allston, MA 02134 Margarita Muniz Academy Gymnasium 20 Child Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Shelbourne Center Gymnasium 2730 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 Shelbourne Center Gymnasium 2730 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 Copley Square Library (Mckim Building) 700 Boylston Street, Back Bay, MA 02116 Copley Square Library (Mckim Building) 700 Boylston Street, Back Bay, MA 02116 Jackson Mann School Auditorium 500 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 02134 Jackson Mann School Auditorium 500 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 02134 All early voting sites are equipped with electronic poll books for voter check in. Early voting locations are well staffed with poll workers and interpreters, and fully accessible to voters with disabilities.  At the end of each day, all voted ballots will be secured and then delivered on Election Day to each voter's precinct to be officially counted with all other ballots. Early voting was made possible by the Acts of 2014. During the 2016 inaugural early voting period, over 47,000 voters, representing over 17 percent of the total ballots cast, participated in early voting. VOTE BY MAIL All registered voters have received a vote-by-mail application in their mail boxes during the week of July 20, 2020. The application is in a postcard format. To receive a ballot, voters must first complete, sign and return the prepaid postcard application to the Election Department by August 26, 2020 for the State Primary. Voters may request a ballot using the vote-by-mail application for the September 1, 2020 State Primary, November 3, 2020 State Election or all 2020 elections. Voters may also request ballots in Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. Residents who have requested to vote by mail can track their ballots online.  If residents never received or lost this application, they can request a new ballot application by completing this form and sending it to the City of Boston's Election Department, via mail, email, fax, physically, or dropping it off at the dropbox located in City Hall or at early voting locations during the early voting period. 1 City Hall Square, Room 241 Boston, MA 02201 Email: absenteevoter@boston.gov Fax: 617-635-4483 Absentee voting in person is available until August 31, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. at the Elections Department in City Hall. To qualify to vote absentee, registered voters must be absent from the City on Election Day, must have a religious belief which prevents them from going inside of a polling location, or have a physical disability which prevents them from going to a polling location. The application to request an absentee ballot can be completed by mail or in person at the Election Department in City Hall. Learn more about applying here. ELECTION DAY Polling locations in Boston for the State Primary election will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. The City recently announced 20 precinct polling location changes this cycle. Individuals can find their polling location for Election Day on the state's website. The ballot will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. Language assistance will be available on Election Day by translators at polling locations or by contacting the Election Department's translation phone bank. For more information on how to participate in this year's elections, please visit boston.gov/election. MEDIA GUIDELINES Members of the media are reminded that certain rules must be followed in order to ensure a smooth voting process for voters. Interviews of voters are not allowed inside polling locations and must be done at least 150 feet away. Interviews with election officers at the polling locations are not allowed. Interview requests for the Election Department must be directed through the Press Office at 617-635-4461. Photos and b-roll shots will be allowed under the supervision of each poll's warden. Photographers are reminded that zooming in on voter ballots and shots over the shoulders of voters will not be allowed -- please respect every voter's right to a private ballot.