WINTHROP TOWN MANAGER’S WEEKLY BLOG January 19, 2017 Volume 2, Number 3 Manager’s Message from your Town Manager, Jim McKenna The Town is asking for assistance from residents to identify malfunctioning street lights. If you see a street light that is flickering, turning on and off intermittently, is out, or has another issue, please report it using our new online reporting form. You are not required to provide your name or any other PARKS AND RECREATION identifying information, but there is space to leave this ADULT PICKLEBALL information in case a follow-up question is needed. Mark your calendar - Wednesday Evenings 7pm to 9pm at the Old Middle To submit a street light issue, School Gym. please go to http://www.town.winthrop.ma. Winthrop Parks and Recreation now offers us/department-public- something new for the adults in our works/webforms/street-light- community – Pickleball for Adults (men & issue-reporting. women) on Wed evenings 7pm to 9pm starting January 18 for 8 weeks. (no class on February 22) We will work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, however, Join one of the fastest growing sports in the US! That’s due to the nature of such issues, right. Pickleball! A fun sport (with a funny name) that combines we will not respond directly to many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong using an oversized each report. paddle and perforated plastic ball played both indoors or outdoors on half the size of a tennis court. Equipment is provided so all you need is pair of sneakers, comfortable clothing and enthusiasm to have fun while getting exercise. No Have a safe and enjoyable partners needed; everyone rotating partners playing opponents of all weekend! levels. Best regards, You can sign-up on site for super savings 8 weeks for $40 per person or drop-in charge of $7 per person. Jim McKenna Originating in Washington State, the game gradually made its way across the country and it’s now here in Winthrop. There are over 100 Contact Us places to play already in Massachusetts. You will find from casual Town Manager’s Office play to competitive tournaments for all levels across the US and (617) 846-1705 Canada. [email protected] Come join the fun and keep active! nthrop.ma.us 2017 RESIDENT PARKING STICKERS Residents are reminded that the orange, 2016 parking permits expired on December 31, 2016. Applications for 2017 Resident Parking Permits are now being accepted. There is no fee for a parking permit if you apply online. There is a $5.00 fee for a resident permit if you apply in person. This fee is waived for senior citizens or residents with a valid handicapped parking placard or plate issued by the RMV. If you apply online, the permit(s) will be mailed to you. There is a fee of $10.00 for a visitor's placard whether you apply online or in person. To apply for your parking permit or visitor placard online, please visit https://winthropstickers.cityhallsystems.com/. Visit us at http://www.town.winthrop. ma.us/ and let us know what you think. Residents can stay informed of all town notifications: Sign up for Code Red & the Town Manager’s Blog- http://www.town.winthrop. ma.us/subscriber Town Website- www.town.winthrop.ma.us Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ winthropma 2017 DOG LICENSES NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE It is now time to purchase Dog Licenses for 2017! There are several ways to do this: Online at http://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/town- clerk/pages/dog-licenses Send in check and proof of rabies in the same envelope as your census (mailed to residents in January) and tag will be mailed back to you. Come into Town Clerk’s Office, fill out form, leave payment and proof of rabies and tag will be mailed to you within 14 days. Please note the Town Clerk’s Office is now cash free and accepts check, money order, debit or credit cards only. GRAB YOUR SKATES Public skating is available every Sunday from 12:40 – 2:00 at Larsen Rink. Price is only $3 a person. For more information, please contact Larsen Rink directly at (617) 846-5770 BASKETBALL - MORNING SHOOT AROUND Middle school boys and girls come shoot around before school at the Pauline St./old middle school gymnasium. Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:00am - 8:00am beginning Tuesday, January 24th for 6 weeks. Cost is $50.00 per student. New Parks and Recreation Program Register online at www.winthroprec.com PRESCHOOL SCREENING Preschool registration will be open from January 5th to January 27th, 2017. General Program Information: All programs require 2 proofs of residency and child’s original birth certificate prior to enrollment and/or screening. All Programs run Monday through Friday and mirror the WPS calendar. All Programs are staffed with 1 teacher and 1 paraprofessional. All Programs have a capacity enrollment of 15 students. Preschool programs require that students be screened. Excessive interest will result in a lottery. If necessary, the lottery will be held on 2/8/17 at 2:30 at the Gorman Fort Banks School. If chosen from the lottery, a non-refundable deposit of $50 will be required by March 1st, 2017 to secure a spot in the program. It will be applied to the tuition balance. All program payments will be due in full by June 1, 2017. Screening dates: 1/30, 1/31, 2/1 & 2/2, 2017 To register for a screening appointment, please complete this form and see Judith Buono at the Student Registration Office, Winthrop Town Hall, 617-846-5500 x7102. WINTHROP’S NEW SUPERHEROES ARE HERE-MOTHERS OUT FRONT If you are a steward of planet earth and concerned about all Earth's current and future children, you are welcome to join us! We are mothers and others who have children we love in our lives and want to protect. Please join us at our next Mothers Out Front-Winthrop house party on Tues Jan. 31 at 6:45 pm. Mothers Out front is a growing national movement of citizens working for a safe, healthy, and sustainable future for all children. We are committed to clean and renewable energy, and we are asking our officials to make responsible choices to benefit all of us. Our current focus is on gas leaks. For further information on the house party or about Mothers Out Front please contact Suzanne Hitchcock-Bryan, 86 Faunbar Ave, Winthrop; 978-973-5309 cell or [email protected] 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. VETERANS SERVICES NEWS The next Veterans/Families Food Bank will take place Wednesday, February 1ST at the American Legion (next to Town Hall). Pick-up is from 10:30-11:30. 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. DCR: NORTH REGION COASTAL DISTRICT PROGRAM SCHEDULE Winged Wonders Saturday, February 11th 10am Winthrop Shores Reservation Come explore the beautiful water birds of the Winthrop Shores. Scoters, Loons, mergansers, grebes and eiders spend their winters on our shores. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you are able to. Winter Birding Sunday, February 19th 10am Halibut Point State Park Halibut Point State park along the Atlantic migratory path, is an excellent locale for winter birding. Harlequins, scoters, eiders, grebes, mergansers, loons, gannets and many more spend their winters on our shores. There is also a good possibility of seeing harbor seals. Please bring your binoculars and if you are able to, a spotting scope to share. For more information, contact [email protected] Meet at Halibut Point State Park on Gott Avenue in Rockport. Campfire Festival Friday, February 17th 5pm – 7pm Constitution Beach Join us for the 4th Annual February community campfire festival. This event will include roasting marshmallows by a campfire, skating, and music. The skating and campfire portion are free, but the skate rentals will be subject to a $5.00 charge. Feel free to bring your own skates. For more information please contact DCR park Ranger Enzo Polcaro at [email protected]. Winter Wildlife Detectives Sunday, February 21st 9am - 10am Belle Isle Marsh Reservation Can you imagine living outside through the entire winter like the coyotes do at Belle Isle Marsh in East Boston? Join us as we explore the trails of the Marsh searching for signs of the many wild creatures that are active during the winter. Learn how animals are adapted to survive outside during the chilly and challenging winter season and how you can become a protector of local wildlife. Winged Wonders Wednesday, February 22nd 9am Winthrop Shores Reservation Come explore the beautiful water birds of the Winthrop Shores. Scoters, Loons, mergansers, grebes and eiders spend their winters on our shores. Some binoculars and a spotting scope will be provided but please bring these items if you are able to. Winter Beach Safari Wednesday, February 22nd 1pm – 2pm Revere Beach Reservation Did you know that razor clams can rapidly burrow deeper into the sand when disturbed by predators? Join us to learn about the fascinating lives of animals of the seashore and to discover the new treasures of animal shells that have washed up on the beach.