News Briefs

May Street Sweeping Starts Monday, May 20 

May Sweeping is One Week Early Due to Memorial Day 

The Town of Winthrop conducts Street Sweeping operations on the last full week of the month (last week with a Friday) from April through October between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the day of a street’s trash collection.  If there is a holiday on the week sweeping would normally occur, sweeping is done a week early.

Town ordinance prohibits parking in a manner that impedes the street sweeper.  Violation of the street sweeping ordinance carries a $40.00 fine, and your vehicle can be towed.

The remaining 2019 street sweeping dates are:

June 24-28 (week of the 24th)
July  22-26 (week of the 22nd)
Aug. 26-30 (week of the 26th)
Sep. 23-27 (week of the 23rd)
Oct. 21-25 (week of the 21st)

For a map of the street sweeping days, and a copy of the calendar, visit https://town.winthrop.ma.us/parking-clerk/pages/street-sweeping.

Democrats to Elect Delegates to State Convention

The Winthrop Democratic Town Committee will hold a caucus on Tuesday, June 4, at 7 p.m. at the Robert A. DeLeo Senior Center, 35 Harvard St., to elect delegates and alternates to the 2019 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across the state will gather at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103 on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Winthrop. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women. Youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who  are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be “add-on” delegates. The Robert A. DeLeo Senior Center building is handicapped accessible.

Details on the rules can be found at www.massdems.org.  For general information on  the Convention or the Democratic Party please contact 617-939-0800 or [email protected].

Nominations being accepted for community service award

AARP is now accepting nominations for its 2019 Massachusetts Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors 50+ Commonwealth residents who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members. 

“AARP Massachusetts is excited to shine a light on 50+ Bay Staters who are using what they’ve learned in life to make a difference in the lives around them,” said Mike Festa, AARP Massachusetts State Director. 

Nominations will be evaluated by the Massachusetts state office based on how the volunteer’s work has improved the community, supported AARP’s vision and mission, and inspired other volunteers. The award recipient will be announced in early fall.

AARP Massachusetts Andrus Award for Community Service nominees must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Nominee must be 50 years or older.

• The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must have been performed on a volunteer basis, without pay.

• The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must reflect AARP’s vision and purpose.

• The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must be replicable and provide inspiration for others to volunteer..

• Couples or partners who perform service together are also eligible; however, teams are not eligible.

• This is not a posthumous award.

Please visit www.aarp.org/andrus for further information and a nomination form.  The application deadline is July 15, 2019.

House Passes Distracted Driving Legislation

  The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation to ban drivers from using hand-held electronic devices in vehicles unless they are in hands-free mode.

“Distracted driving is a factor in too many dangerous and fatal motor vehicle accidents, and the House is proud to take this step to move this policy forward for Massachusetts – making our roads safer and protecting our drivers, passengers and pedestrians,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “I want to thank Chair Straus for his diligence and hard work, and Leader Wagner, Chair Michlewitz, members of the Black and Latino Caucus, and my colleagues in the House who were instrumental to this process.”

“Today the House took a big step towards making the roads of the Commonwealth safer for everyone by passing this legislation,” said Rep.Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “Distracted driving is a serious issue, and I am proud that the House took this step in order to combat it.”

The bill defines hands-free devices as those that engage in voice communication with and receiving audio without touching, holding or otherwise manually manipulating the device. Law enforcement officials have the ability to issue warnings to drivers until Dec. 31, 2019 before the law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. The bill will also:

• Allow for drivers to use mapping or navigation devices if they are affixed to the windshield or integrated into the vehicle and only involve a tap or a swipe;

• Exempt use of electronics in the case of an emergency and for first responders if they are using the devices as part of their duties;

• Penalize drivers with fines $100 for the first offence, $250 for the second offence and $500 for third and subsequent offences;

• Builds off and bolsters existing law by creating compliance measures, requiring the inclusion of race on the uniform citation, and extending this practice to all jurisdictions;

• Invests $300,000 towards data collection and analysis by an outside entity;

• Requires jurisdictions – if data suggests those jurisdictions may be engaging in racial profiling – to collect data on all traffic stops for a one-year period; and

• Create a public awareness campaign informing and educating the dangers of using technological devices while driving and the obligations of drivers under this bill.

The bill will now go to the Senate.