WINTHROP TOWN MANAGER’S WEEKLY BLOG September 29, 2016 Volume 1, Number 38
Manager’s Message from your Town Manager, Jim McKenna
This weekend kicks off Breast Cancer Awareness month. There are many Winthrop groups participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday. I would like to thank House Speaker Robert DeLeo for providing bus transportation to those who are taking part in the walk on Sunday. All are welcome that afternoon to visit the Winthrop Elks for their Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Kickoff Party.
Have a great and safe weekend.
Best regards, Jim McKenna
Contact Us Town Manager’s Office (617) 846-1705 townmanageroffice@ town.winthrop.ma.us
Visit us at http://www.town.winthrop.ma. us/ and let us know what you think.
Residents can stay informed of FALL FAIR AND CRAFT SHOW all town notifications: AT INGLESIDE PARK Saturday 10/8 from 11AM - 3PM
Train rides, Amusements, Pumpkin Patch, Sign up for Code Red & the Pumpkin Painting, Pony Rides, Moon Town Manager’s Blog- Bounce, Games, Food, Entertainment. http://www.town.winthrop.ma Craft Tables Spaces Available (tables .us/subscriber not supplied) Vendor space is available. $25.00 per table (must provide own table) Register below or at the recreation office. RAINDATE IS SUNDAY, OCT 09th. Town Website- www.town.winthrop.ma.us
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ winthropma
Twitter- https://twitter.com/townhall tweets
FIND YOURSELF IN A DCR STATE PARK
IN OCTOBER
All Programs are free and open to the public and are designed for adults and children ages 8 and older and all levels of birding expertise. An adult must accompany children. Please apply sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses. Insect repellant is recommended for the marsh programs following the instructions on the label. Rain Cancels. For more information call (781) 485- 2804 Ext. 105 or email [email protected]
An Oasis for Wildlife
Saturdays October 1st & 15th 8:00 a.m. (Stay for an hour or more) Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
Discover this oasis for wildlife on a pleasant walk for up to a mile and a half on level ground with DCR Park Supervisor Sean Riley. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you are able to. Meet at: Main Parking lot near the bulletin board, located on Bennington Street, East Boston between address 173 Bennington St., Revere and 1236 Bennington St., East Boston. Accessible by public transportation: MBTA Blue line, Suffolk Downs Station, turn left onto Bennington Street and walk to the park entrance on the right.
Harvest Festival Sunday October 2nd 1:00 p.m-3:00 p.m. Belle Isle Marsh Reservation Bring the whole family to enjoy live animals with creature teacher, pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, games and live jazz music by
“Made in the Shade” band. All ages are welcome. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh, Save the Harbor Save the Bay and the East Boston Foundation. Meet at: On lawns at the Main Parking lot, located on Bennington Street, East Boston between address 173 Bennington St., Revere and 1236 Bennington St., East Boston. Accessible by public transportation: MBTA Blue line, Suffolk Downs Station, turn left onto Bennington Street and walk to the park entrance on the right.
Birding Delights at Daybreak 8:30 a.m. Sunday October 23rd (Stay for an hour or more) Winthrop Shores Reservation-Winthrop Beach We will watch for a variety of waterbirds. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you are able to. Meet at: Winthrop Shore Reservation on Winthrop Shore Drive across from Sturgis Street and 60 Winthrop Shore
Drive. Accessible by Public Transportation: MBTA Blue line, Orient
Heights Station then transfer to bus 712/713 Point Shirley-Orient
Heights (an additional fee may apply for the transfer), arrive at the Winthrop Beach stop then walk down Sturgis Street, Winthrop MA.
Be a Friend of Sea Animals-Beach Cleanup Sunday October 30th 10:30 a.m.-12:00p.m. Revere Beach Reservation Come volunteer to help marine animals by safely cleaning up the beach using litter grabbers. Please wear close toed shoes. Groups need to register in advance by contacting Matthew Nash at email [email protected] or at the phoning 781-485-2804 Ext. 105.
For more information about volunteering with the DCR including required forms, please visit http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/get-involved/volunteer- ops/dcr-volunteer-in-parks-program-guide.html Meet at: Bandstand Pavilion # 2 adjacent to the beach on Revere Beach Boulevard, across from 300 Ocean Avenue in Revere and the MBTA Blue line Revere Beach Station. Parking is available for a nominal fee at either the MBTA Wonderland Garage or in one of the public lots. There is limited free and metered on street parking.
FOOD FOR THE POOR TO VISIT
ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
St. John’s Episcopal Church will be welcoming Reverend Bruce
Torrey from Food For The Poor at the 10:00 am Mass on October 2,
2016. All faiths are welcome to join us as we learn more about
Food For The Poor’s mission to provide food, clothing, medical care, housing, and economic development programs in the Caribbean and Latin America. A full buffet breakfast will be served at the Parish House following the Mass. St. John’s Episcopal Church is located at 222 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop. Please visit www.stjohnsepiscopal-winthropma.org for more information.
TH EARLY VOTING BEGINS OCTOBER 24
There's just more than a month until voters fill out their ballots for the state and presidential election, and you have until
Oct. 19 to get registered in Massachusetts if you want to cast your vote.
Luckily, you can register to vote online. To register on the web, you need a valid driver's license, learner's permit, or non-driver ID issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, and need to have a signature on file with the RMV.
This year, you can vote early in Massachusetts If you don't have an ID with the RMV, you can fill out the form and mail or bring it to your local election official.
For more information, please contact the Town Clerk’s office at
(617) 846-1742.
NEW PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
The Town of Winthrop would like to extend a warm welcome to
Deanna Farretra as she takes on the role of Public Health Nurse. Nurse Farretra’s office is located in Town Hall.
VETERANS SERVICES NEWS
The next Veterans/Families Food Bank will take place Wednesday, October 5th at the American Legion (next to Town Hall). Pick- up is from 10:00-11:30. If you are new to our Food Bank, then you must pre-register with Veteran Services. For more information call the Veterans Service office at (617)
846-3065 .
WINTHROP FERRY FALL SCHEDULE
Hop onboard the Winthrop Ferry and take a trip to Spectacle Island, Boston or Marina Bay Quincy. Ferry riders can save $50 when they purchase 20 round trip regular priced tickets for $290.00 from the Winthrop Ferry website. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.thewinthropferry.com
COFFEE WITH A COP
Join the Winthrop Police Department for the th National Coffee with a Cop Day on October 7 at Adrianna’s on Main Street from 10 – 11:30 am and again from 5 – 6:30 pm. The program aims to connect police with the community they serve. Everyone is welcome.
WINTHROP ART ASSOCIATION
FALL DAY TRIP
Sunday, October 16th $55 pp
PORTLAND. ME --- MUSEUM OF ART
PORTSMOUTH, NH ---
TODD BONITA GALLERY & SHOPPING IN THE AREA Lunch will be in Portland on your own
Contact Dawn Mahoney 617-846-2644 for reservations
THE PLAYMAKERS PROUDLY PRESENT “REFER MADNESS: THE MUSICAL”
The Playmakers are thrilled to announce their upcoming production of the hilarious spoof Reefer Madness: The Musical. The show opens on October 7 and will now be performed at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown. With a book by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, music by Dan Studney, lyrics by Kevin Murphy, the production is directed by Patrick Harris, musically directed by Joshua Ziemann, and choreographed by Jason Hair-Wynn.
This show-within-a-show, inspired by the 1936 cult propaganda film, Reefer Madness takes a satirical look at the hysteria that Chris Mick as the Lecturer occurs when clean-cut kids fall prey to the evil drug marijuana. Featuring big show-stopping Broadway style numbers injected with a bit of tongue in cheek political commentary, Reefer Madness poses the question of what happens when a power hungry individual with dangerous rhetoric preys on the fear of the public.
“Even though Reefer Madness is a crazy and funny musical, some of the themes the shows covers are surprisingly relevant to what is going on in the world today,” says director Patrick Harris, “this year in particular, during the election season, when politicians use fear-based propaganda to whip Americans into a frenzy.” In the show, The Lecturer, an authoritarian figure and director of this show within a show, preaches the dangers of the drug, while the
Jason Hair-Wynn as Jimmy show he has conceived begins to fall apart as the characters spin out of control.
Reefer Madness: The Musical features Chris Mick as The Lecturer, Jason Hair-Wynn as Jimmy, Amy Oldenquist as Mary Lane, Vanessa Lucero as Mae, Andy Porterfield as Jack/Jesus, Melissa MacNeil as Sally, Damien LaCount as Ralph, Monica Wright as the Placard Girl, and Grace Meidanis as Miss Poppy. Gina Ansaldi, Luisiana Cruz, Lara Finn, Andrew Quinney and Rob Williams round out the ensemble.
Tickets are currently on sale via the Playmakers’ website, www.winthropplaymakers.com and can also be reserved via the box office line, 617-539-1175. For ticketing questions or to make group reservations, email [email protected]. Performances are Friday, October 7, Saturday October 8, Friday, Amy Oldenquist as Mary Lane October 14, Saturday October 15 at 8PM and with matinees on Sunday October 9 and Sunday October 16 at 2PM.
FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
St. John the Evangelist Parish celebrates the Feast of St. Francis of
Assisi with the blessing of the animals on Sat. Oct. 8 at 11 a.m.
(weather permitting) in the Oceanview Street parking lot.
Whether your best friend is furry, feathered, or even slithery, all pets are invited to receive God’s blessing at this very special event. All ages and types of pets are welcome! Pets should be in a pet carrier or on a leash.
WINTHROP IMPROVEMENT AND
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NEWS
The next Winthrop Improvement and Historical Association monthly dinner meetings is scheduled for
Tuesday, October 4th Dinner will be an Italian Feast. Guest speaker will be John Pelikan, sea Captain and Architectural Historian for Old Ironsides.
Reserve your dinner now by kindly calling WIHA President Sandy Schiff at (617) 407-3438. **Please be advised that unless confirmed dinner reservations are cancelled by noon on Monday, each “no show” will owe the full dinner price of $16 per person.
Boogie in the Barn Saturday, October 1st 7:30 to 10:30 pm Ralph Tufo brings his Cajun band to the barn for a night of music and dance. Admission is $15 at the door only, with nobody admitted after the Barn’s legal maximum of 99 persons is reached. Light refreshments (NO ALCOHOL) will be available.
S.P.I.R.I.T.S. of New England Paranormal Investigations Program. Friday, October 21st 7 to 10 pm Ellen MacNeil is bringing back her S.P.I.R.I.T.S. of New England
Paranormal Investigations Program. Tickets are $10 each and must be ordered in advance by calling Ellen at (617) 846-0282.
Seating is limited to 99 persons. Reserve ASAP to attend this “spirited” event.
For information on the workshop, please Like The Winthrop Cultural Council on Facebook.
WINARC ACTIVITIES
WINARC was founded over fifty years ago by a group of parents and young adults with disabilities. This grassroots organization of families recognized the need for social and recreational participation in the community for their children, and they committed their efforts to creating those opportunities.
Through the tremendous support of Winthrop and its surrounding communities, WINARC's community partnerships with businesses and families have ensured the successful operation of its current programs, as well as the development of new programming to fulfill the ever growing needs of children and adults with disabilities.
WINARC welcomes new members and volunteers in all our programs. Our volunteers are the backbone of our organization, and can be credited with the success of our programs.
Bowling every Saturday from September through May with a $50 annual fee.
Special Olympics every Sunday starting in October through June. Cost is $100 for the year. Saturday night dances every other month at the Senior Center $5
6 week Adaptive Hip Hop Lessons held on Wednesdays in October $5
Halloween Dance October 22nd at the Senior Center 6:30 – 8:30 $5
For more information on any other events or about WINARC, please contact Nancy Giuffre at (617) 640-4292 or email [email protected] with WINARC in the subject line. enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities
WINTHROP CULTURAL COUNCIL SEEKS FUNDING PROPOSALS
Proposals for community-oriented arts, humanities, and science programs are due October 17, 2017.
This year, the Winthrop Cultural Council will distribute about $8,000 in grants.
The LCC online application is now live! Applicants may apply until October 17th. https://www.mass- culture.org/lcc_public.aspx On-line submissions only.
For specific guidelines and complete information on the Winthrop Cultural Council, visit www.winthropculturalcouncil.org contact 339.203.0423 or email us at [email protected].
WINTHROP POLICE DEPARTMENT TO OFFER ALICE INSTUCTOR CERTIFICATION TRAINING
Monday, November 28, 2016 and Tuesday, November 29, 2016 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Old Winthrop Middle School $595 per person
The purpose of advanced ALICE training is to educate local and school-based law enforcement, as well as church, hospital, and workplace administrators and safety professionals about our researched-based, proactive response approach to Violent Intruder events.
The ALICE training program is designed to supplement current "Lock-down" or "Secure-in-Place" procedures used frequently in our public schools and institutions. Tragic historic events have dictated the need of enhanced response options to increase chances of surviving a horrific event. For more information, visit http://www.cvent.com/events/alice-instructor-certification- training-winthrop-police-department-city-st/event-summary- 054bd35b02b54124ace0447a9af1e624.aspx
SAINT VINCENT de PAUL OFFERS SUPPORT TO WINTHROP RESIDENTS
St. John the Evangelist Parish has a Saint Vincent de Paul Society Chapter. The mission of the Society is to give temporary support to parishioners and other Winthrop residents who find themselves in need. Please call 617-846-7400 if you or someone you know is in need of assistance.
WINTHROP YOUTH LACROSSE SIGN UPS
Sign-ups for Winthrop Youth Boys Lacrosse will begin on Monday October 2nd. Boys in grades 1 – 8 are welcome to join. The cost is $195. For more information or to sign up please email [email protected].
DCR 2 WEEK LOOK AHEAD
The following activities will be occurring over the next two weeks.
Rumney Marsh, Saugus - Delivery of topsoil and placement over the slopes adjacent to the proposed walking path will be continuing over the next two weeks. Installation of landscaping and hydroseeding the slopes along the path will resume in October. - Planting of Salt Marsh Restoration Area D has been completed. - The environmental monitor will observe conditions of the slopes and erosion control devices.
Winthrop Beach - Construction activities have been completed for this phase of the project. The next phase of the project, Reconstruction of Winthrop Shore Drive, is planned to begin in the spring of 2017.
Design for Phase 4 – Winthrop Shore Drive Improvements - A meeting is planned for October (date, time and venue TBD) to present the latest design plans for the Winthrop Shore Drive reconstruction project.
Please note that street sweeping has resumed on Winthrop Shore Drive. It occurs every 3rd Thursday of the month. Please remove cars from Shore Drive in advance of street sweeping or else they will be towed.
Questions or concerns about the project should be directed to DCR Resident Engineer Steve Colometo, at the DCR trailer at the Rumney Marsh parking area on Ballard Street, Saugus, by visit or phone (781-558-2876) during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. In case of an emergency, contact 911 or DCR’s 24/7 emergency hotline at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency at 508-820-1428.
Join us on Twitter @MassDCR - Visit http://mass.gov/dcr
Visit the Project website here: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/conservation/planning- and-resource-protection/projects/winthrop-beach- renourishment-project.html