News Briefs

Winthrop Town Council President, Candidates Debate

WCAT will host a Town Council President Candidates Debate on Wednesday, October 11, beginning at 7 pm.

The Debate is sponsored by WCAT, The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, and The Winthrop Transcript. The sponsoring groups neither support nor oppose any candidate, but seek to promote an informed vote, to acquaint the voters with all the candidates and issues, and to encourage voter participation in the election.

This event is closed to the public. Only the candidates will be permitted in the building during the debate. It will be televised live on WCAT channel 22, and will also live stream on our website at wcat-tv.org.

 

13th Annual Fall Craft Fair at St John’s Episcopal Church

St John’s Episcopal Church celebrates autumn with its Annual Fall Craft Fair on Saturday, October 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at 222 Bowdoin Street in Winthrop, featuring items to inspire seasonal decorating as well as Halloween spirit.

Shoppers will select from an abundance of unique crafts, including quilted treasures, nautical decorations, clothesline crafts, traditional and handcrafted jewelry, aromatic soaps, paintings, greeting cards and photographs by local artists, plus seasonal floral arrangements. In addition, the fair will be proffering a bounty of imaginative and whimsical Halloween decor to delight all ages. Craft vendors from far and near are gathering for this event.

Adding to the congenial and welcoming shopping atmosphere, St John’s will be offering savory lunches available for purchase, such as grilled hot dogs, and bagged lobster lunches that include chips and a home-baked triple chocolate brownie. Lobster lunches will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. To stave off possible disappointment, lobster lovers are encouraged to reserve their lunches by phoning or texting Carol at 617-913-5182. Lunches may be enjoyed in the sunny parish café.

There will be a “split the pot” winner announced at the end of the fair. Patrons are encourage to stop by the contest entry table to join in the fun.

The St John’s Episcopal Church website is at http://www.stjohnsepiscopal-winthropma.org/, where upcoming events and observances are posted in detail. St John’s Church and Parish Hall are wheelchair accessible.

 

CASA holds awards night

CASA (Community Action for Safe Alternatives) presented Winthrop Without Stigma Awards this past Sunday night at its awards ceremony. Taking home awards were Donna O’Donnell, Glen Curtis, John Hanson, Book Depot and Cafe.

The 2017 Mary Ann Lounsbury Community Service Award winner was Mary Lou Osborne.

CASA started with a woman’s desire to create a safe environment for her children. In 1997, Mary Ann Lounsbury overheard one of her children and his friends discussing the drug transactions that were happening on school property. Outraged by what she was told, she began to talk to town officials and community leaders. Unfortunately, her words fell on deaf ears. She did not take that lightly. The substance abuse coalition, called CASA was born from this incident and Mary Ann worked tirelessly with CASA’s co-founder Brenda Curry, to keep the conversation of addiction and substance abuse at the forefront of our community. She enlisted the help of friends to keep her initiatives and ideas moving forward and growing within the community, which in turn has become what we know CASA to be today.

Mary Ann grew up in East Boston and moved to the town of Winthrop with her family of two brothers and one sister in her early childhood. A Johnson Avenue resident, Mary Ann attended catholic schools before moving on to nursing School. In November of 1967 she married David Lounsbury and they made their home on Washington Avenue. Maryann balanced her career as an Alzheimer’s Unit nurse in Marblehead with raising three boys. She retired in 2006 after being diagnosed with lymphoma (cancer). Maryann was a fighter but, unfortunately, after eight years of surgeries, chemotherapy and more, she lost her battle to cancer in November of 2014.

For those who knew Mary Ann, they knew a woman who had a great sense of humor and would do anything for her friends, her family and her community. Her smile could light up a room and she always wanted what was best for those around her. As a parent she loved her three boys unconditionally; she would never miss an event or anything her boys participated in. She was an avid hockey fan and all three of her boys, Brian, Geoffrey and Jonathan, played for many years. Mary Ann was a problem solver, kind-spirited supermom, loyal friend and a strong advocate for curbing substance abuse. She was determined to make a difference in her community by challenging outdated social norms and stigma to create change for her children and the future children of the town of Winthrop.

Register to vote

Wednesday, October 18, 2017 will be the last day to register to vote for the upcoming Local Election on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. The Town Clerk’s Office will be open on October 18^th from 8am to 8pm for citizen convenience.

The only requirements to register to vote are that you are a citizen of the United States, a resident of Winthrop and will be 18 years old on or before Election Day. You may register in the Town Clerk’s Office, or you may request a mail-in registration form by phone or to vote online . Those registering to vote using mail-in registration forms must have their forms postmarked no later than October 18th, 2017 in order to vote in the State Election.